Green Roof (GR) has been recognized as environmentally friendly and practical approach to overcome environmental and societal challenges in urban contexts and contribute toward sustainable development. Nevertheless, various factors hinder GRs' broader adoption, which must be addressed to realize its social, environmental, and economic benefits. Prior studies have reported deterrents in diverse contexts, but not all are relevant to Tehran. The primary objectives of this study are to identify the factors that hinder the Intensive Green Roofs (IGRs) adoption in Tehran, and to analyze their relationship. To this end, a Systematic Literature Review is conducted to identify potential deterrents. Next, a fuzzy based Multi-Criteria Decision-Making approach is utilized to refine and analyze the interrelationships among the refined deterrents. Findings reveal seven novel barriers that have not been discussed in the existing literature and include exchange rate fluctuations, limited access to equipment due to sanctions, low energy tariffs, and low level of confidentiality (aristocracy of neighbors). In addition, the results indicate that the category of ‘cultural and climatic settings’ holds the most influential deterrents. The findings aid researchers and policymakers in devising effective strategies for widespread adoption of IGR in Tehran.