TEHRAN – Iranian administration has published a list of 163 government companies and organizations which must take their headquarters out of Tehran by next month.

First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi stated that the decision was a part of the decentralization policy of the government, based on which all organizations affiliated to state departments are obliged to relocate outside Tehran according to defined priorities, the Mehr News Agency reported.
Rahimi has pointed out recently that the government is determined to transfer some ministries, organizations, and companies to other cities.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced last month that his administration plans to reduce the population of Tehran by offering various incentives.
The administration will grant loans, land, and subsidies to Tehranis who move to other cities, Ahmadinejad said at a meeting with the directors of the Islamic Revolution Housing Foundation.
He said the administration has drafted a comprehensive plan for the transfer of people from Tehran Province to other provinces, adding that the details of the plan will be released at a later date.  
Also, the Science Ministry has announced that it plans to move certain universities outside Tehran.
Meanwhile, an Iranian professor of geophysics said in April that the results of a study carried out by a Japanese research group show that any major earthquake in Tehran will have catastrophic consequences.
Bahram Akasheh said the proposal to transfer people from Tehran is not a proper response to the threat of a major earthquake and the administration should try to decentralize its activities and move some of its activities away from Tehran. 
Tehran has a population of at least 10 million people.