Iran may temporarily close schools and universities due to the water crisis.

Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special

((Al-Bahr Al-'Arab)) Follow-up: Amidst the severe water crisis facing the Iranian capital, the government is currently considering imposing a mandatory week-long closure on government bodies, universities, and schools in Tehran. The government spokesperson, Fatemeh Mihajerani, said on Monday that "the water situation in Tehran is extremely bad, so we are studying closing the capital for a week." The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted the spokesperson as saying that the water crisis is a "national problem" and could lead to a disaster soon. Therefore, she said the government must also explore unconventional options. Mihajerani explained that the Islamic Consultative Assembly (parliament) wants to reduce the work week from five to four days, from Saturday to Tuesday, due to the water crisis. In addition, the work-from-home system, as practiced during the COVID-19 pandemic, will be reactivated to reduce electricity and water consumption. Days earlier, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned that the water crisis in Tehran could force some 15 million residents to leave, in one of the most serious official statements about the country's deteriorating environmental situation. Raisi said in statements carried by the "Asr Iran" newspaper on Thursday that "the situation is dangerous, and Tehran no longer has any water," adding that relocating the capital is a proposed emergency solution. Iran is facing a worsening water crisis in more than 20 of its 31 provinces, with indications that some vital water sources are nearing depletion. The official Iranian News Agency (IRNA) reported that one of the country's largest reservoirs could dry up completely within the next four weeks.