Iran’s Water Resources Crisis: From ‘Bakhtegan’s Black Fate’ to ‘Karun’s Gradual Death’
A new wave of nationwide protests in Iran, which began with objections to water scarcity in Khuzestan, is an issue that water and environmental experts had repeatedly warned about previously, and statements by officials also confirm it. As the head of the Environmental Protection Organization stated, water bankruptcy has endangered Iran’s civilization.
- Iran’s Food Security is in Danger
A senior environmental expert in Iran says that although agriculture accounts for 92 percent of the country’s total water consumption, it only provides 66 percent of Iran’s food needs. The severity of this crisis has reached a point where it has put Iran’s food security at risk.
The current environmental crisis and water scarcity is not a new or unpredictable problem. Bahnaz al-Sadat Vaez Madani, an environmental expert, in 2019 in an article titled “Iran’s Environmental Crises” in the monthly economic magazine Karaai, citing the World Health Organization, introduced the cities of Ahvaz, Kermanshah, and Sanandaj as among the five most polluted cities in the world and writing with reference to statistics: “Air pollutants in Tehran alone lead to over 5,500 deaths annually from heart, vascular, and respiratory diseases.”
In this article, he writes about Iran’s water scarcity crisis: “There is no longer the possibility of collecting and building new dams in the country, and to the extent that this possibility existed, it has been done in the past one or two decades.” According to him, the possibility of transferring water from water-rich areas of the country to dry and water-poor areas “is no longer possible beyond the current level.”
- Iran’s Environment is Dying
Meanwhile, multiple reports in Iranian media report on the destruction of wetlands, rivers, and other water resources in the country. “Sistan and Baluchestan is thirsty and Hamun is dying,” “Bakhtegan wetland’s fate is dark,” and “Karun is in gradual death” are just examples of tragic headlines in Iranian media about the state of the country’s environment.
Although in contrast to these reports, occasionally hopeful news about the revival of water resources in Iran is reported, but according to experts, these hopes in current conditions are “temporary.”
- There is Not Much Time Left to Save the Current Situation
Fatema Aman, a senior analyst at the “Middle East Institute” in Washington, referring to a report from Science magazine, says that the improvement in the condition of Lake Urmia, which everyone thinks is almost being revived, has been temporary.
According to her, the water crisis in the region is an ecosystem problem and to solve it, neighboring countries must cooperate with each other. Because, for example, due to ongoing developments in Iran and Afghanistan, there is not much opportunity left to save the current situation.
- Water Bankruptcy Has Endangered Iran’s Civilization
The head of the Environmental Protection Organization also confirms this critical situation and says that Iran’s water and soil capital is being wasted and water bankruptcy has progressed to the point that it has endangered the country’s civilization.
According to Isa Kalantari, in some wetlands such as Gavokhuni wetland, unsustainable development and lack of land-use planning have resulted in no possibility of water supply.
This Islamic Republic official, who was previously the Minister of Agriculture, considers the water reality in the country to be “more tragic” than what officials say and, criticizing the country’s macroeconomic policies including “self-sufficiency,” acknowledges that achieving 95 percent production in self-sufficiency means using double the capacity of existing water resources; and if we do not fight for the environment under current conditions, it will be destroyed.
- Physical Violence Resulting from Water Bankruptcy Was Predicted
Nikahang Kowsar, a water analyst and journalist, previously described the water situation in Iran to Voice of America as beyond a “crisis,” and said this crisis is so serious that it could lead to physical violence.
According to Kowsar, “the reduction of water resources due to unjustified consumption in the agricultural sector – meaning consumption that was excessive due to self-sufficiency and agricultural policies – has led to the current bankrupt situation.”
This water journalist attributes water bankruptcy in Iran to “poor management,” not due to reduced rainfall. He says: “This shows that the Islamic Republic, over these past decades, has acted very poorly and we are now seeing the results of this poor conduct more clearly.”
Although in contrast to these reports, occasionally hopeful news about the revival of water resources in Iran is reported, but according to experts, these hopes in current conditions are “temporary.”
- There is Not Much Time Left to Save the Current Situation
Fatema Aman, a senior analyst at the “Middle East Institute” in Washington, referring to a report from Science magazine, says that the improvement in the condition of Lake Urmia, which everyone thinks is almost being revived, has been temporary.
According to her, the water crisis in the region is an ecosystem problem and to solve it, neighboring countries must cooperate with each other. Because, for example, due to ongoing developments in Iran and Afghanistan, there is not much opportunity left to save the current situation.
- Water Bankruptcy Has Endangered Iran’s Civilization
The head of the Environmental Protection Organization also confirms this critical situation and says that Iran’s water and soil capital is being wasted and water bankruptcy has progressed to the point that it has endangered the country’s civilization.
According to Isa Kalantari, in some wetlands such as Gavokhuni wetland, unsustainable development and lack of land-use planning have resulted in no possibility of water supply.
This Islamic Republic official, who was previously the Minister of Agriculture, considers the water reality in the country to be “more tragic” than what officials say and, criticizing the country’s macroeconomic policies including “self-sufficiency,” acknowledges that achieving 95 percent production in self-sufficiency means using double the capacity of existing water resources; and if we do not fight for the environment under current conditions, it will be destroyed.
- Physical Violence Resulting from Water Bankruptcy Was Predicted
Nikahang Kowsar, a water analyst and journalist, previously described the water situation in Iran to Voice of America as beyond a “crisis,” and said this crisis is so serious that it could lead to physical violence.
According to Kowsar, “the reduction of water resources due to unjustified consumption in the agricultural sector – meaning consumption that was excessive due to self-sufficiency and agricultural policies – has led to the current bankrupt situation.”
This water journalist attributes water bankruptcy in Iran to “poor management,” not due to reduced rainfall. He says: “This shows that the Islamic Republic, over these past decades, has acted very poorly and we are now seeing the results of this poor conduct more clearly.”
