Iran - especially its capital, Tehran - is facing an unprecedented drought this autumn, with rainfall at record lows and reservoirs nearly empty. Officials are pleading with citizens to conserve water as the crisis deepens.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that if there is not enough rainfall soon, Tehran's water supply could be rationed. But he said that even rationing might not be enough to prevent a disaster.
If rationing doesn't work, Pezeshkian said, we may have to evacuate Tehran. His comments have prompted criticism in Iranian newspapers and on social media. Former Tehran mayor Gholamhossein Karbaschi called the idea a joke and said evacuating Tehran makes no sense at all.
Iran's meteorological officials say no rainfall is expected over the next 10 days, and the water crisis is already affecting daily life in the capital.
I'm planning to buy water tankers to use for toilets and other necessities, a woman in Tehran told BBC Persian.
In the summer, Iranian rapper Vafa Ahmadpoor posted a video on social media showing a kitchen faucet with no running water. It's been four or five hours, he said. I've bought bottled water just to be able to go to the toilet.
The manager of the Latian Dam, one of Tehran's main water sources, says it now holds less than 10% of its capacity. The nearby Karaj Dam is similarly dire, with a 92% decrease in rain reported compared to last year.
The government is now pinning its hopes on late autumn rain, but forecasts are bleak. Officials have announced plans to penalize households and businesses that consume excessive amounts of water, warning that some nights could see water flow reduced to zero.
Tehran's water crisis is attributed to not only the lack of rainfall but also to leakage from the city's aged infrastructure and infrastructural damage from recent conflicts. As the government seeks solutions, cities like Mashhad are also sounding alarms with water reserves dropping precipitously.
Iran's water crisis, long in the making, is now at a critical threshold, threatening the stability of millions living in major urban areas.
