Iran's capital faces worst drought in recent memory, water chief says

Iran’s capital Tehran is facing a severe water crisis as officials warn the lowest rainfall in nearly six decades has left key reservoirs dangerously depleted.

“The amount of rainfall in Tehran province since the start of the current water year has been the lowest in 57 years,” head of Tehran's Water and Wastewater Company Mohsen Ardakani said on Friday.

The four reservoirs supplying Tehran's water are only six percent full, he added, urging the capital's residents to bring down use.

Water consumption has surged as Iranians embark on their traditional extensive household clean-up before their New Year on March 20th.

On March 1, the city hit a record 48,000 liters per second in consumption—a 20 percent increase despite the cold weather.

“This kind of surge is something we’ve never seen before,” Tehran's water company said in a statement.

Beyond Tehran, much of Iran is struggling with severe water shortages, with nationwide rainfall dropping by 45 percent compared to last year and dam inflows down 29 percent from the five-year average.

Iran has been classified as “extremely high water stress” by the United Nations, which means the crisis may bring about lasting economic, environmental, and social consequences if the trend continues.

Protests over water and its allocation are common in Iran, especially in the country's arid central regions like Isfahan, where farmers blame the government for the mounting crisis.

The situation has also fueled regional tensions, with Iran accusing Afghanistan’s new-built Pashdan Dam of restricting critical water flow to its eastern provinces.