Heatwave causes water shortages in Iran as temps top 50C

Water scarcity is a major issue in Iran, particularly in arid provinces in the country’s south, with shortages blamed on mismanagement and overexploitation of underground resources, as well as the growing impact of climate change.

Tehran’s provincial water management company called for usage to be reduced by “at least 20 percent” to help ease the shortages.

In a statement, it said “the reservoirs of the dams supplying water to Tehran are currently at their lowest level in a century”, following years of steady decline in rainfall.