Tehran's days as Iran's capital city could be numbered. Skip related content
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Iran is looking to relocate its principal city after warnings that Tehran is likley to be struck by a catastrophic earthquake in the near future.
A powerful government body has reportedly approved plans for the move in order to protect residents and avoid mass casualties from the natural disaster.
The idea of relocating the capital was proposed by the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameni, responding to Iranian seismologists, who have warned that Tehran lies on at least 100 known fault lines, and would not survive a major quake intact.
The plans were apparently drawn up 20 years ago but were given serious consideration after the 2003 earthquake in the south-eastern city of Bam, which killed 40,000 people.
Tehran is home to 12 million people and is one of the largest cities in the Middle East.
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