France Press: Examining the Transfer of Iran's Capital to the Makran Coast; Economic Transformation or Executive Challenge?

On Tuesday, February 19, France Press published a detailed report on the idea of transferring the capital from Tehran to the southern shores of Iran, addressing various aspects of this issue. According to the news agency, Tehran, which has been the capital of Iran for over two centuries, faces problems such as heavy traffic, land subsidence, severe air pollution, and a water crisis. The Iranian government is currently considering moving the capital to the Makran coast in the south of the country; a region that some officials refer to as the 'lost paradise.' This idea has been proposed several times since the 1979 revolution but has been shelved each time due to financial and executive obstacles. However, Masoud Pezeshkian, the head of the current Islamic Republic government who replaced the previous head of government in July, has once again raised this issue, emphasizing that Tehran's problems have worsened under current policies and that a fundamental solution is needed. Why Makran? In January 2024, Fatemeh Mohajerani, the government spokesperson, announced that the Makran region is one of the serious options for transferring the capital, although no specific timeline for this action has been established yet. Makran, a less developed area in the provinces of Sistan and Baluchestan and parts of Hormozgan, is located along the Sea of Oman. This region has repeatedly been proposed as an option for relocating Iran's political and economic center. Abbas Araqchi, Iran's foreign minister, stated in a recent speech: 'The lost paradise of Makran must become the future economic center of Iran and the region.' Last September, Pezeshkian also stated: 'We have no choice but to move the country's economic and political center to the south and by the sea.' Supporters and opponents of the capital transfer This proposal has sparked extensive discussions among politicians, experts, and the public. Some, including Ali Khazaei, a member of parliament, emphasize that 'the new capital must preserve Iran's rich culture.' Tehran has been the capital since 1786 (1165 in the Persian calendar) when Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar chose it as the capital, and it has been the political, administrative, and cultural center of Iran ever since. The city has a permanent population of 18 million and about two million floating population, featuring a mix of modern architecture, historical buildings, bustling markets, and green spaces. However, Makran is a coastal area with fishing villages, sandy beaches, and ancient history, which some experts consider unsuitable for becoming Iran's capital. Kamyar Babaei, a 28-year-old engineer living in Tehran, called this proposal a misguided move, telling France Press: 'Tehran is a symbol of Iran, the Qajar dynasty, modernity, and urban life.' Ali Khaksar Rafsanjani, a professor of urban planning, also emphasized in an interview with France Press that 'Tehran, due to its strategic location, is a safe place in emergencies and wartime, while Makran is adjacent to the Sea of Oman and is defensively vulnerable.' Pyruz Hanachi, the former mayor of Tehran, believes that Tehran's problems can be solved through investment and planned development. The staggering costs of relocating the capital While no official estimates of the costs of solving Tehran's problems have been provided, in April 2024, Ahmad Vahidi, the then Minister of Interior, claimed that relocating the capital could cost around $100 billion. The ISNA news agency reported on Makran's potential to become an important economic and commercial center. However, this report noted that international sanctions and Iran's financial problems may complicate the implementation of this plan. The Etemad newspaper also mentioned Makran's access to open waters and reduced earthquake risk compared to Tehran as advantages of this transfer, but at the same time pointed to the high costs of relocating the population and the executive challenges of this transfer. The Khabar Online website warned that climate change, water resource shortages, and rising temperatures in the Makran region have limited the environmental conditions for extensive development. Iranian ecologist Hossein Moradi stated: 'Rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall have created fragile environmental conditions in the Makran region that make extensive development difficult.' Strategic goals of Iran in choosing Makran Some analysts believe that the choice of Makran as a potential capital goes beyond an internal decision and has strategic dimensions. Banafsheh Kinosh, a researcher at the International Institute for Iranian Studies, wrote in an analysis on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter): 'By choosing Makran as a potential capital, Iran seeks to compete with major regional ports such as Dubai and Gwadar in Pakistan.' She also added that this action could help develop the Chabahar port and strengthen Iran's position in regional trade. Conclusion The transfer of Iran's capital from Tehran to Makran is a topic that has serious supporters and opponents. While Pezeshkian's government seeks this change to address Tehran's metropolitan problems and develop the south of the country, many experts consider the enormous costs, environmental challenges, and vulnerability of Makran as the main obstacles to this plan. According to France Press, ultimately, it remains to be seen whether this plan will proceed to the execution stage or, like previous times, be shelved due to financial and executive issues.