Isa Bozorgzadeh, spokesperson for Iran’s water industry, warned about the unprecedented severity of the water crisis, stating that 70% of Iran’s plains are in a “prohibited” or “critically prohibited” state and that more than 300 plains, including Tehran, face a serious risk of land subsidence.
Bozorgzadeh told the state-run Payam-e Ma magazine, “The water crisis in Iran has passed the 110th minute of the game.”
Iran: Dozens of Airports, Railway Stations, and Metro Stations at Risk of Land Subsidence
He described land subsidence as a direct consequence of excessive groundwater extraction, saying that a significant part of this over-extraction has occurred due to “inefficient management, legal gaps, and a lack of coordination between responsible institutions.”
Bozorgzadeh emphasized that reducing water usage in the agricultural sector is the most important solution to contain this crisis and that without decreasing the cultivated area, genuine conservation will not be possible.
Somayeh Rafiei, head of the Environment Caucus in Iran’s regime Majlis (parliament), warned in May 2025 that excessive extraction of groundwater has caused land subsidence in 30 provinces and turned 66% of the country’s wetlands into dust storm hotspots.
Over-Extraction from Wells Threatens Tehran
The spokesperson for the country’s water industry referred to Iran’s Seventh Development Plan as the last opportunity to reform water resource management, warning that ignoring this chance will result in the loss of water security and pose a serious threat to the ecosystem.
Bozorgzadeh, speaking about the role of Tehran’s municipality in this crisis, said that about 50 drinkable wells under the municipality’s control should be connected to the drinking water network, while the rest should be sealed to help balance the aquifer.
According to him, over-extraction from these wells is one of the factors contributing to land subsidence in the capital.
Soudabeh Najafi, head of the Health Committee of Tehran’s City Council, said on May 9, “According to estimates, the rate of land subsidence in Tehran reaches 24 or 25 centimeters annually.”
The spokesperson for the water industry stressed that drilling and operating new wells in Tehran must be stopped, and that the use of existing water sources should only be for drinking purposes or aquifer protection.
Bozorgzadeh added, “The number of wells in the Tehran aquifer exceeds its capacity, and this issue has intensified land subsidence.”
Previously, Mehdi Chamran, head of Tehran’s City Council, had said, “Land subsidence exists in the country and affects subway tunnels, and for this reason, we are concerned.”
