The country is mulling moving its capital from Tehran to Makran in the southern region.
Why is Iran Looking to Change its Capital?
The country is mulling moving its capital from Tehran to Makran in the southern region. 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. 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.
The Makran region is in the Sistan and Baluchistan province, near its southern coast and the Gulf of Oman. Tehran is battling environmental issues and a high population density.
Some Tehran residents are facing power shortages, while others are battling a water crisis 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.
Trade Issues with Turkey
Addressing the ongoing truck drivers’ issues at the Turkish border, Mohajerani expressed gratitude for their hard work under harsh conditions, transporting essential goods. Iranian truck drivers recently encountered significant delays at the Turkish border, due to a policy change revoking fuel tax exemption, affecting over a thousand trucks. This led to a week-long backlog, with drivers facing harsh conditions.
The possibility of joining the FATF
Mohajerani touched upon the topic of joining the Financial Action Task Force stating that the review of the Palermo bills at the Expediency Council has resumed with coordination among the branches of government and a directive from the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Established in 1989, the FATF claims to be an intergovernmental entity tasked with setting standards and encouraging countries to implement legal, regulatory, and operational measures against money laundering, terrorism financing, and other threats to the global financial system.
Plans for dealing with Trump
When asked about the government’s strategies for dealing with the incoming U.S. President Donald Trump, Mohajerani remarked that the government has made preparations and communicated specific scenarios to the relevant institutions before Trump takes office on January 20.
