Latest on Iran’s water crisis
According to AP News, Tehran could face water rationing and evacuation if rain doesn’t arrive soon, President Hassan Rouhani warned yesterday on Reuters.
Iran on verge of water crisis Financial Times On July 31st 2025, Iranian president announced that his nation is on the brink of dire water shortage crisis and declared public holidays across Tehran to combat water scarcity issues.
Tehran, the Iranian capital, is bracing for unprecedented water rationing during Iran’s worst drought in decades. Authorities have indicated that periodic cuts to water supply across Tehran – home to over 10 million people – may become necessary as shortages worsen and reservoir levels decrease. (Dawn +2) (Kurdistan24 – Khwrdstn 24), are already taking effect.
Multiple official statements reveal how rainfall levels across Iran have dropped to historic lows, with parts such as Tehran facing some of their driest conditions in over 100 years. [Kurdistan24 – Khwrdstn 24 | Wanaen.com| +2].
Latyan Dam in Tehran’s east suburban region, for instance, has only reached approximately 9 % fullness according to reports.
As a result, the government has issued warnings of wider-scale consequences of the drought, with President Masoud Pezeshkian warning that without more rainwater soon water rationing may become imminent – with evacuation becoming possible should rainfall levels fail to improve soon enough. Anadolu Ajansi: 1 plus 1
Practical Measures The planned restrictions consist of periodic cuts to household water supplies in residential areas where infrastructure is already stressed, especially Dawn on May 1, and local news outlets have reported that some Tehran neighborhoods’ pipelines had already run dry overnight, Kurdistan24 reports this event as happening and Kurdistan24 confirms this event as occurring as well.
Utility officials say the restrictions are necessary to avoid “waste” of water even if they cause inconvenience, according to Report.az. Additionally, the Ministry of Energy has encouraged residents to significantly cut back their consumption as overuse is worsening the crisis.
Reuters +1
Deeper Causes & Systemic Issues
However, analysts caution that Iran’s water management issues go beyond drought: inefficient agriculture practices, excessive groundwater extraction rates and ageing infrastructure being key drivers. According to Wikipedia +1
Authorities estimate that approximately 80 % of Iran’s water usage goes toward agriculture, leaving little wiggle room when drought strikes domestic supplies.
Additionally, Tehran residents could face long-term ramifications of drought and temperatures exceeding 50C, straining both their water and electricity systems further. Le Monde.fr reports: “Tehran residents could potentially face additional issues as a result.”
Millions of Tehran’s residents face an uncertain water future, as intermittent cuts threaten their homes, businesses, schools and hospitals. To adapt, many may require tankers, store water ahead or reduce daily usage to deal with this crisis; even evacuations highlight how dire this situation has become.
Reduced water supply has far-reaching implications, as reduced availability threatens hygiene, sanitation and public health in dense urban environments. Furthermore, as resources diminish inequalities may arise: wealthier districts may gain access to backup supplies while poorer neighbourhoods suffer first from diminished resources.
What Lies Ahead
Over the next several weeks, Tehran’s authorities must implement and manage public discontent with its restrictions regime while at the same time maintaining public satisfaction. While rain could provide temporary relief from drought conditions, officials appear pessimistic that relief will come quickly enough. Without structural reform and investment in alternative water sources such as wastewater reuse, desalination or transporting from less-dry regions to Tehran – its capital remains vulnerable.
Iran may need to reconsider not only their immediate emergency measures but also their long-term water management strategy to avoid repeating an experience like that of one of their major cities requiring actual evacuation due to insufficient supplies of water.