Key points
- In 2022 air pollution caused 6,400 deaths in Tehran
- Tehran is also located in a high-risk earthquake zone
- Tehran consuming 25pc of the country’s drinking water
ISLAMABAD: Iran’s presidential administration has proposed the remote and underdeveloped Makran region in southeastern Iran as a potential site for the country’s new capital, igniting widespread debate and controversy.
“The new capital will definitely be in the south, in the Makran region, and this matter is currently being worked on,” government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Tuesday, according to Iran International.
On Wednesday, however, President Masoud Pezeshkian’s Executive Deputy Jafar Ghaempanah told reporters that moving the capital to Makran was “only an idea,” adding that no timeline has been established for such a move, according to Iran International.
Problems facing Tehran
According to Anadolu Ajansi’s report, “Why does Iran plan to relocate its capital?” Tehran faces several problems. Tehran’s population could grow by 20 million in the next 30 years, potentially making city management nearly impossible.
Air pollution remains one of Tehran’s biggest challenges, with experts warning it has reached critical levels. The Health Ministry reported in 2022 that air pollution caused 20,800 deaths nationwide annually, with 6,400 in Tehran alone.
Tehran is also located in a high-risk earthquake zone, surrounded by active fault lines. Experts warn that a major quake could threaten millions of lives.
A statement from Tehran’s municipality in 2021 said 60 per cent of the city’s buildings do not comply with earthquake safety standards.
On the other hand, scientists from Iran’s Construction and Housing Research Center found that Tehran sinks by an average of 25 centimeters (10 inches) each year. The Center’s 2018 study, based on satellite images from 2003 to 2017, showed the city center and northwest rural areas are affected.
And Tehran faces significant water shortages due to climate change and mismanagement. Experts said the city’s reservoirs are nearly empty, with Tehran consuming 25 per cent of the country’s drinking water.
Advantages of relocation
According to the Anadolu Ajansi’s report, relocation of Iran’s capital to the south, offers strategic advantages, primarily economic, as the Gulf holds Iran’s key oil and natural gas reserves.
The region has a lower earthquake risk than Tehran and the climate is better suited for sustainable infrastructure projects.
The Iranian parliament approved the proposal to move the capital from Tehran, which has nearly 20 million residents, on December 25, 2013, with 110 votes in favour.
A council was formed to identify a suitable new location, but no significant progress has been made since. Due to Iran’s ongoing economic challenges, the plan to relocate the capital is not expected to be realised in the near future, Anadolu Ajansi reported.
