Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a stark warning over unsustainable water usage, cautioning that the capital Tehran could face severe shortages as early as September if consumption is not brought under control, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday.

Iran has long struggled with resource mismanagement and excessive consumption, leading to repeated electricity, gas, and water shortages during periods of high demand.

“If we fail to manage the situation and people do not cooperate in reducing consumption, there will be no water left in Tehran’s dams by September or October,” Pezeshkian warned.

According to Sheena Ansari, head of the Environmental Protection Organisation, Iran has endured drought conditions for the past five years. The Meteorological Organisation has recorded a 40% decline in rainfall over the past four months compared to long-term averages.

“Our lack of focus on sustainable development has left us grappling with serious environmental challenges, including water stress,” Ansari told state media.

One of the key concerns is high domestic water consumption. Mohsen Ardakani, head of Tehran province’s water and wastewater company, told Mehr news agency that 70% of residents use more than the recommended 130 litres per day.

Iran’s water crisis is compounded by the agricultural sector, which consumes around 80% of the country’s water resources. Addressing the issue will require comprehensive reforms in natural resource management, something successive governments have struggled to implement.

On Wednesday, President Pezeshkian dismissed a government proposal to declare Wednesdays a day off or introduce a week-long summer holiday to curb demand, saying such measures merely "cover up" the crisis rather than solve it.

Iran has previously faced public unrest over water shortages, most notably during the summer of 2021 in the country’s southwest.

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