Iran has closed government offices in 22 provinces, including Tehran, and reduced working hours in four others as the country grapples with an unprecedented heatwave and historic drought. Temperatures have soared beyond 40°C nationwide, reaching close to 50°C in some southern regions.

According to Iran Water Resources Management, rainfall since the start of the water year on September 22, 2024, has dropped 40% below the long-term average. Dams across the country are operating at just 44% capacity, with some provinces like Fars and Hormozgan nearing total depletion.

In Tehran, water intake to dams has fallen by 50%, and rainfall is down by 41%, reported Iranian Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi. As a result, authorities will suspend water supply to public and private pools from Thursday until further notice, according to Tehran Province Water and Wastewater Company.

President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged during a cabinet meeting that past efforts to mitigate Iran’s water crisis have failed. He called for immediate and urgent measures, warning that inaction could lead to irreversible consequences.

“The water crisis is more serious than what is being discussed today,” Pezeshkian said, urging changes in consumption patterns and infrastructure upgrades.

Experts blame the worsening crisis on decades of mismanagement, including the overuse of water for unsustainable farming and heavy state subsidies that encourage overconsumption. Iran’s extensive dam construction since the 1950s has also failed to deliver adequate water security under current conditions.

With power outages spreading across the country due to failing hydroelectric output and infrastructure strain, officials warn that both water and electricity shortages may intensify if the crisis persists.