Sat Nov 08 14:23:06 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
Iran is facing a severe drought, particularly affecting Tehran, its capital city of 10 million. Rainfall is at a century low, and half the country hasn’t seen rain in months. The government is planning periodic water cuts in Tehran to conserve supplies, with some areas already experiencing overnight outages. The President warned that Tehran might need evacuation if no significant rain falls by year’s end. Key reservoirs supplying the city are critically low, with some holding less than two weeks’ worth of water. Similar situations are reported in other major cities like Isfahan, Tabriz, and Mashhad, where water cuts are being considered. Previous measures, such as declaring public holidays during the summer, have been implemented to conserve water and energy.
News Article:
Tehran Faces Water Cuts Amidst Worst Drought in Decades, Possible Evacuation Looms
TEHRAN, Iran – Iran is grappling with a historic drought that has brought the nation’s water resources to a critical low, particularly impacting the capital city of Tehran. With rainfall at its lowest in a century, the government is implementing drastic measures, including periodic water cuts to Tehran’s 10 million residents.
“This will help avoid waste even though it may cause inconvenience,” said Energy Minister Abbas Ali Abadi on state television, confirming the cuts. However, local news outlets have reported that some areas of the city are already experiencing overnight water shortages.
President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a stark warning on Friday, stating that Tehran might need to be evacuated if significant rainfall doesn’t occur before the end of the year. No details were provided on the logistics of such a massive undertaking.
The Amir Kabir dam, a crucial reservoir for Tehran, is critically depleted, holding only 14 million cubic meters of water, compared to 86 million cubic meters at the same time last year. Officials estimate this provides less than two weeks of supply for the region.
Similar water shortages are plaguing other major Iranian cities. State television broadcast images showing significantly lower water levels in dams serving Isfahan and Tabriz. Mashhad is considering nighttime water cuts to manage its own shortages.
Earlier this year, in July and August, the government declared public holidays in Tehran in an effort to conserve water and energy during a severe heatwave and widespread power outages.
The situation underscores the growing environmental challenges facing Iran and highlights the urgency for sustainable water management strategies. The looming threat of evacuation in the capital signals the severity of the crisis and the potential for widespread disruption.
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