by Alex Winston
President Massoud Pezeshkian delivered a stark warning during a cabinet meeting on the same day, citing an energy ministry report that revealed the crisis was more severe than publicly acknowledged.
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Iran is currently experiencing a major water crisis. The Iranian government has declared an emergency public holiday in Tehran Province as the nation grapples with a severe water shortage and energy crisis, compounded by soaring temperatures that have pushed the country’s aging infrastructure to its breaking point.
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani announced on X/Twitter that Wednesday, July 23, would be a public holiday in Tehran Province “following the continued extreme heat and the necessity of conserving water and electricity.” She encouraged citizens to use the time for “rest, a short trip, or being with family, of course, while observing safety guidelines and conserving energy.”
The unprecedented move comes as temperatures across Iran have climbed well above seasonal averages, with Tehran reaching approximately 40⁰ on Sunday, placing enormous strain on the country’s deteriorating power grid and water supply systems.
President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a stark warning during a cabinet meeting on the same day, citing an Energy Ministry report that revealed the crisis was more severe than publicly acknowledged.
“The water crisis is more serious than what is being discussed today, and if we do not take urgent action now, we will face a situation in the future for which no remedy can be found,” Pezeshkian was quoted as saying by state media. “In the water sector, beyond management and planning, we also need to address excessive consumption.”
Last week, Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi issued an alarming forecast, warning that the country’s critical reservoirs could run completely dry within weeks. The minister revealed that the Islamic Republic is actively negotiating with neighboring countries to import water, though the shortage has already strained Iran’s regional relationships.
Tehran’s water utility has announced that current reserves in the capital’s main dams have plummeted to their lowest levels in a century. Officials cite an unprecedented five-year drought combined with record-low rainfall as the primary contributing factors, leaving the province facing its most severe water stress in six decades.
According to the World Resources Institute, Iran ranks as the 14th-highest country globally for baseline water stress, with commentators increasingly discussing a potential “day zero” when water supplies could be completely exhausted.
Academic researcher Reza Talebi has noted that Iran’s aggressive expansion of dam construction has worsened the country’s water crisis instead of alleviating it. Between 2012 and 2018, the number of dams in Iran more than doubled, from 316 to 647, according to Talebi, and many were erected without proper environmental evaluations and often driven by political or military agendas.
The Latyan Dam, located near Tehran, has seen its capacity shrink dramatically from 95 million cubic meters to just 9 million. Meanwhile, over the past 20 years, groundwater levels in Tehran have fallen by 12 meters, contributing to land subsidence and threatening the stability of urban infrastructure. Major infrastructure issues also led to a preventable loss of water, with estimates of up to around 25% of Tehran’s water lost through mismanagement of facilities.
RECOGNIZING THE magnitude of the challenge, Pezeshkian has emphasized that addressing Iran’s water crisis requires a fundamental shift in national strategy. Speaking at a government-academic symposium focused on sustainable water management, he stressed that the water shortage represents not a temporary issue but a long-term national challenge.
“The crisis cannot be solved through fragmented projects,” Pezeshkian declared, outlining his vision for comprehensive reform. “We need consistent efforts anchored in five key pillars: integrated water-soil-crop engineering, effective education, incentive policies, strict legal enforcement against violations, and continuous evaluation and oversight.”
The president called for establishing expert joint task forces combining government bodies and academic institutions to design context-specific solutions at provincial and county levels, acknowledging Iran’s vast climatic and geographical diversity.
Pezeshkian also emphasized the critical importance of public awareness campaigns. “Both policymakers and citizens must understand the urgency. We must make water data widely accessible and embed water conservation into educational curricula.”
Energy Minister Eli Cohen addresses the people of Iran
The crisis has also drawn international attention, including a pointed response from Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen, who posted a message on social media addressing the Iranian people directly.“I see your suffering and know that you don’t even have enough drinking water,” Cohen wrote on X. “This is because your oppressive regime, instead of investing in providing drinking water, has spent water resources on a failed nuclear program that has now been consigned to the dustbin of history.”
Cohen criticized Iran’s government priorities, stating that “instead of addressing the needs of the Iranian people, they spend resources on terrorist branches in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Gaza.”
The minister highlighted his country’s water management success, noting that “Israel has managed to overcome water shortages, and thanks to our knowledge and innovation, we now have abundant water resources that we even export to our neighbors.”
He also concluded his message with an offer of future cooperation, addressing the Iranian people, “To the Iranian nation: The day this oppressive regime is overthrown, your lives will be much better, and you too will be able to benefit from Israel’s water technologies.”
The water crisis represents one of the most serious challenges facing Iran’s government, combining immediate humanitarian concerns with long-term questions about the country’s environmental sustainability and resource allocation priorities.
Alex Winston
Source: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-861724
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