Iran’s newly elected president has expressed interest in relocating the nation’s capital from Tehran, citing overpopulation and infrastructure concerns in the bustling city.
President Masoud Pezeshkian proposed moving Iran’s capital city from Tehran to a location nearer the south coast of the country.
On Saturday, during his speech, Pezeshkian stated that developing Tehran further would be futile as the city is grappling with countless challenges since assuming office in July.
According to Javan Online, he stated that the city is currently facing several issues such as water shortages, land subsidence and air pollution.
The president admitted that Tehran, being the country’s capital, is encountering issues for which there seem to be no answers. Therefore, he recommended shifting both the political and economic hubs elsewhere as a viable solution.
According to Pezeshkian, merely advising Tehran inhabitants to relocate is insufficient; instead, the government should lead by example and motivate citizens to follow suit.
He emphasized that discovering a new capital situated nearer to the Persian Gulf – where significant trading pathways intersect – would also have economic benefits.
According to the president, if we keep on taking resources from the southern part and sea of our country, bringing them to the center for processing before finally sending back into export markets; there is no possibility that further development will occur.
He insisted that this situation severely diminishes our competitiveness. Therefore, our only option is to relocate the economic and political center of the country closer to the sea in southern regions.
Pezeshkian’s notion has been rebutted by Gholamhossein Karbaschi, the former mayor of Tehran during the 1990s. He expressed disbelief in finding a viable alternative that could replace Tehran and challenged Pezeshkian’s proposed solution. During an interview with Asr Iran outlet, he questioned where this new location would be found. The ex-mayor also cautioned against relocating capitals as it had resulted in financial losses and conferred two troublesome cities rather than one to some countries before.
Since 1786, Tehran has served as the capital of Iran and is situated in the northern region of the country about 100km (63 miles) away from the Caspian Sea. With a population size that exceeds over 9.4 million people living within its borders alone – while encompassing nearly 17 million individuals throughout its greater metropolitan area – Tehran stands tall as both Western Asia’s largest city and also holds position for being home to second-largest metropolitan district found across Middle Eastern territories; Cairo comes first with regards here therein comparison!
The Iranian authorities have suggested relocating the capital away from Tehran before, with comparable proposals having been put forth during President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s tenure from 2005 to 2013. Parliament established a specialized council during this period that was tasked with identifying a substitute location; nevertheless, no ultimate verdict regarding transferring the capital was determined.
After defeating his opponent Saeed Jalili with 53.7% to 44.3% in the second round of the presidential election held earlier that month, Pezeshkian was inaugurated as Iran’s president at the end of July. Due to President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter crash demise in May, a sudden poll had been organized.
