Iran faces severe water crisis, President Pezeshkian warns

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a stark warning about the country’s worsening water crisis, urging citizens to conserve resources to prevent further shortages.

Speaking at the signing ceremony of a $17 billion energy investment project in Tehran, Pezeshkian addressed Iran’s ongoing energy challenges and the recent power outages, highlighting excessive and inefficient consumption as a major issue.

Energy challenges and power shortages

Pezeshkian emphasized the necessity of managing energy consumption, stating, “We must address problems stemming from shortages and imbalances in the energy sector by controlling and preventing excessive consumption. This must be done with public cooperation and participation.”

Reflecting on a difficult winter, Pezeshkian apologized to the public for electricity shortages, saying, “We faced a tough winter. The gas reserves in our tankers were insufficient to meet the needs of power plants. However, our colleagues at the Ministry of Oil and Energy worked tirelessly to increase production and mitigate the crisis. Thanks to their efforts, we prevented a nationwide gas shortage.”

Iran’s growing water shortage

The president also highlighted Iran‘s growing water crisis, warning, “We are in the midst of a severe water crisis. If we do not use it properly, we will undoubtedly face serious problems. To implement our plans, we need a nationwide campaign for optimal water consumption.”

Recent reports indicate that ongoing drought conditions have led to declining water levels in reservoirs across the country.

On March 6, Tehran’s Water Authority called on residents to reduce their water consumption by 20% to prevent summer shortages.

Land subsidence threatens historic Isfahan

The impact of the water crisis extends beyond shortages, as experts warn of worsening land subsidence in Isfahan, a city known for its rich history and architectural heritage.

According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Ali Beytollahi, head of the Seismology and Risk Management Department at the Road, Housing, and Urban Development Research Center, has raised alarms about the city’s deteriorating condition.

“The land subsidence problem in Isfahan is getting worse by the day,” Beytollahi stated. “We must take immediate action to address Isfahan’s water crisis and land subsidence, as this is a national issue.”

Despite opposition to inter-basin water transfers, Beytollahi acknowledged that transferring water from other basins is now the only viable solution to prevent further subsidence and ensure a stable water supply.

For years, Isfahan has struggled with recurring droughts and excessive groundwater extraction for agriculture and industry.

The city’s lifeline, the Zayandeh River, which originates in the Zagros Mountains of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, has been largely redirected to other regions, leaving Isfahan’s water resources severely depleted.

Historic landmarks at risk

Fatemeh Davari, director-general of the Protection and Restoration Department at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, emphasized the urgency of addressing the crisis. “This issue must be resolved before land subsidence worsens. If the current trend continues, the problem will expand across the entire region.”

The government is reportedly developing reinforcement and restoration projects to protect Isfahan’s historic structures, but experts warn that without fundamental solutions to the water crisis, the city’s long-term stability remains uncertain.