Why is Iran looking to change its capital?

Iran is looking at changing its capital city.

The country is mulling moving its capital from Tehran to Makran in the southern region, according to several media reports.

But what happened? And why is Iran considering this move?

Let’s take a closer look:

What happened?

First, let’s take a brief look at Tehran.

As per Newsweek, Tehran was established as Iran’s capital over 200 years ago.

This was done by Āghā Moḥammad Khān, the first ruler of the country’s Qājār dynasty.

Ynet News quoted Iran’s government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani as saying that the country is eyeing relocating its capital from Tehran to the country’s south.

“The new capital will definitely be in the south, in the Makran region, and we are currently working on this matter,” Mohajerani was quoted as saying.

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The Makran region is in the Sistan and Baluchestan province, near its southern coast and the Gulf of Oman.

Mohajerani was quoted as saying that two committees have been established to examine its viability.

“We are seeking assistance from academics, elites and experts, including engineers, sociologists and economists,” she said as per Newsweek.

She added that the scheme is currently in its “exploratory phase.”

Why is Iran doing so?

Iran is doing so because of Tehran is facing a slew of problems.

As per Ynet News, Tehran is battling environmental issues and a high population density.

Some Tehran residents are facing power shortages, while others are battling a water crisis

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Ynet News quoted Mohajerani as saying that while it is not an urgent issue, it is crucial that experts look at it.

Mohajerani said that while the government is looking to fix Tehran’s problems, it is also examining how to use resources in other parts of the country.

As per Tehran Times, Makran, which is near the Gulf of Oman, also offers strategic advantages.

Makran could become a commercial and maritime hub in the future.

Not only would it give Iran a fillip in trade, it would also bring down the pressure on Tehran.

Iran’s Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref was quoted as saying that the development of the region “is a priority for the current government.”

It has been a historically significant location since the Achaemenid Empire.

With over 1,000 kilometers of coastline and the Chabahar Free Trade-Industrial Zone being developed since 2003, Iran is looking to make Makran an international trade corridor connecting Central Asia to the Indian Ocean.

This is not a new idea either.

As per Newsweek, shifting Iran’s capital from Tehran was first proposed during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s presidency in the early 2000s.

Ex-Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also suggested it as a way to solve the issues Tehran is facing.

Now, Masoud Pezeshkian’s government has once again revived the notion.

The outlet quoted Pezeshkian as saying last week, “One of the reasons that has led us to consider changing the capital is the imbalance between resources and expenditures in Tehran.

“Transporting raw materials from the south to the center, processing them, and then returning them south for export drains our competitive capacity. We must shift the country’s economic and political center to the south and closer to the sea.”

However, not everyone is fan of this idea.

As per Ynet News, critics point to the prohibitive cost and the logistical issues of changing Iran’s capital.

They say such a move could ruin Tehran’s economy and the fallout could take years if not decades to fix.

Conservative journalist Ali Gholhaki slammed the idea.

“Rebuilding Azadi Stadium takes 18 months and costs 19 trillion rials ($23.75 million); how much time and money does relocating the capital require? Think over a century and hundreds of billions of dollars!” Gholhaki wrote on X.