The Population of Urban Marginalization Increased from 600,000 to 25 Million in Three Decades

A former executive of the "Revitalization and Balancing of Groundwater Resources" project at the Ministry of Energy stated that Iran's existence is dependent on groundwater, noting that the population of urban marginalization in Iranian cities has increased from 600,000 to over 25 million in a 35-year period. Mohammad Ali Mostafavi emphasized that the "Nationalization of Water" law, passed in 1968, designated 20 areas, including Jiroft, Mashhad, and Varamin, as prohibited zones. Mostafavi mentioned that "the alarm bells for Iran had already rung at that time. Therefore, we must proceed very cautiously and wisely with a specialized perspective, as Iran's existence is related to groundwater." The phenomenon of urban marginalization is a result of multiple crises in Iran, including economic and water crises. In this context, the Research Center of the Parliament stated in its latest report that "all provinces in the country are facing the phenomenon of slum dwelling." According to this center, about 20 million people in Iran live in "inefficient areas including informal settlements, historical fabric, and dilapidated areas." The parliamentary research arm reported that about 6 million of this population specifically live in informal settlements—people whose "inefficient economy and poverty have scattered them as slum dwellers across the country." Estimates suggest that economic conditions in Iran will not see positive change, and an increase in urban marginalization and poverty should be anticipated. A review of the latest official economic statistics shows that the average price per square meter of housing in Tehran has exceeded 70 million tomans, and the annual inflation rate in October remains above 40 percent. The expansion of slum dwelling; the Research Center of the Parliament: 6 million people have "informal" housing. An expert's assessment of the social aspects of the seventh development plan: Expect confrontational approaches to social health. Shocking statistics presented at a "commemoration" ceremony; billions of dollars of intergenerational capital wasted. The water crisis in Iran; a dry land and fear of changing traditional agricultural practices.