President Pezeshkian said that Tehran's status as Iran's capital could change due to the city's water crisis and over-expansion.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed that Iran has no choice but to move its capital from Tehran southward, according to a Thursday report from the Guardian.
While visiting Hormozgan province, Pezeshkian stated that the reasons for the capital move include the city's over-expansion and water scarcity. He added that he proposed the capital move with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last year.
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Pezeskian suggested the Hormozgan province as a possible area for the capital's relocation. He explained that the “region is located on the shores of the Persian Gulf and provides direct access to open waters and the development of trade and economic relations,” elaborating that the area has the potential to become a “very prosperous and advanced region."
Tehran consumes about 25% of the country's water supplies, the Guardian report added.
Pezeshkian spoke about how the country's rainfall has decreased by at least half, and that this year's estimates put rainfall at below 100mm, compared to the country's standard of 260mm.
The report stated that dams around Tehran provided around 70% of its water, but that the "low rainfall and increased evaporation have reduced the dams’ share and increased pressure on groundwater."
RANIAN PRESIDENT Masoud Pezeshkian addresses the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. He said nothing about the suffocating poverty and unemployment that define daily life for the very people he claims to represent, the writer maintains. (credit: JEENAH MOON/REUTERS)
In July, a spokesperson for the Iranian government announced a public holiday for the purpose of conserving water.
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“In the water sector, beyond management and planning, we also need to address excessive consumption,” Pezeshkian said in a July cabinet meeting.
“If we do not take urgent action now, we will face a situation in the future for which no remedy can be found.”
Netanyahu offered support to the Iranian people
In August, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video message addressing the people of Iran, pledging that Israel would help solve the country’s severe water shortages once it is “free” from the current regime.
Israel is a global leader in water purification technology, recycling 90% of its wastewater.
“The moment your country is free, Israel’s top water experts will flood into every Iranian city bringing cutting-edge technology and know-how,” Netanyahu added.
Alex Winston contributed to this report.
[SRC] https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/iran-move-capital-tehran-president-084808254.html
