Iran's top national security body is to "seriously" consider proposals to shift the political capital out of quake-prone Tehran following last month's devasting temblor in the southeast of the country, state television reported Monday.
Hassan Rowhani, a top cleric who heads the Supreme National Security Council, said the body would soon "seriously study the problem of moving the capital."
"The capital must be moved," he told the television, adding the proposal had been floating around since 1991 but had since failed to gain any momentum or the full cooperation of all government bodies.
According to IRIB website, Government Spokesman Abdollah Ramazanzadeh later confirmed the government had been studying the idea since 1989, but said no firm conclusion had ever been reached. He added the cabinet had yet to raise the issue but vowed that authorities would be "more vigilant" regarding construction regulations.
On December 26, Iran's southeastern city of Bam was flattened by a quake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
