May 17, 2019
Shortly before the 2017 presidential election, Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf (photo) opened Line 7 of the Tehran Metro to much fanfare. Qalibaf was a candidate in that election. After the election, he was sacked and the new mayor swiftly closed the line down, saying Qalibaf had rushed to open it for political reasons but before required safety gear had been installed. Sixteen months later, three stations and 7.5 kilometers (5 miles) of the line have now been opened.
