Tehran – Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported on November 29, 2025, that the Karaj Dam (Amir Kabir Dam) has been disconnected from the national power grid due to critically low water levels. The dam’s hydroelectric plant, which supplies electricity to Tehran and Alborz provinces, can no longer generate power as reservoirs have dropped below the intake threshold. Manager Mohammad Ali Moallem confirmed the shutdown, stating it could last weeks unless emergency measures are taken.
The crisis stems from decades of mismanagement, over-consumption, and prolonged drought, with Karaj’s reservoirs at just 8% capacity—mostly “dead volume” unusable for extraction. Tehran, home to 15 million, now faces rationing, with daily cuts up to 50% in some areas. Five major dams feeding the capital average 10% capacity, threatening agriculture, industry, and drinking water for 16 million in Tehran and Mashhad.
Experts warn of irreversible damage, including ecosystem collapse and social unrest. President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged conservation, but sanctions limit infrastructure fixes. This “water failure state” exacerbates power outages, with Baneh facing 8-10 hour daily cuts.
