How did Tehran change after the Iran-Iraq War ended in 1988?

Following the end of the Iran-Iraq War in 1988, Tehran entered a period of normalization and accelerated modernization during the 1990s. Under the leadership of mayor Gholamhussein Karbaschi, who took office in 1989, the city underwent significant infrastructure development to address severe overcrowding and fragmentation.1

Key changes included:
* Infrastructure and Services: The city expanded its drainage, garbage, and transportation facilities. Construction of a highway network resumed, and the first lines of an underground train system were mobilized by the early 21st century.12
* Urban Development: The number of parks more than tripled, and the city saw a proliferation of cultural centers and green spaces.1
* Economic Shifts: Liberal economic reforms and a wave of privatization in the 1990s helped the city move away from its heavy dependence on the public sector. Additionally, the relaxation of urban planning regulations and the introduction of incentive zoning triggered a boom in high-rise development.13

While these reforms improved accessibility for residents, the rapid expansion and high-rise construction often came at the cost of the old city's physical fabric.12