On July 31, 2025, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a stark warning about the country’s escalating water crisis, highlighting unsustainable consumption patterns that could leave Tehran’s dams dry by September or October. Speaking to the Tasnim news agency, he urged citizens to curb excessive water use to avert severe shortages in the capital.

Iran has grappled with recurring shortages of water, electricity, and gas during peak demand periods, exacerbated by resource mismanagement and a five-year drought. Sheena Ansari, director of the Environmental Protection Organisation, noted that a 40% rainfall deficit over the past four months, compared to long-term averages, has intensified the crisis. “Neglect of sustainable practices has left us grappling with severe environmental challenges, including acute water stress,” Ansari told state media.

In Tehran, water consumption far exceeds sustainable levels, with Mohsen Ardakani, head of the province’s water and wastewater company, reporting to Mehr news that 70% of residents use more than the standard 130 liters per day. The agricultural sector, which accounts for up to 80% of Iran’s water use, remains a significant hurdle to effective resource management, requiring sweeping reforms to address inefficiencies.

President Pezeshkian rejected a government proposal for mandatory days off or a week-long summer holiday to conserve resources, calling such measures superficial. “Shutting down is merely a bandage, not a solution to our water crisis,” he stated on July 30. The warning comes against the backdrop of past unrest, including protests in southwestern Iran in 2021 over water shortages.

As Iran faces mounting environmental and resource challenges, the government is under pressure to implement sustainable policies and rally public cooperation to prevent a looming catastrophe in Tehran and beyond.