Kurdistan Region Protests Iran for Closing the Zab River

The cutting off of water from the Little Zab River has become a major problem between Iran and the Kurdistan Region. The Zab originates in Iran, passes through the territory of the Kurdistan Region, and flows into the Tigris. Iran has not announced the reason for cutting off the water. Iraqi authorities have remained silent.

The Kurdistan Region of Iraq announced that Iran, since Eid al-Fitr this year (June 26), has cut off the flow of the Little Zab River without prior notice or consultation with Iraqi and Kurdistan Region authorities. The Little Zab is one of Iran’s most abundant permanent rivers and does not dry up throughout the year.

In recent years, with the intensification of drought affecting Lake Urmia, the idea of transferring water from this river to Lake Urmia has sparked extensive debates in Iran.

According to international treaties, the transfer of water from border rivers creates problems that require consultation and joint solutions with neighboring countries before anything else.

Environmental activists say that problems with border rivers, in addition to the Little Zab, also involve the Hawizeh Marsh and the Helmand River. The Hawizeh Marsh is the largest wetland in Khuzestan Province, located on the Iran-Iraq border, with approximately one-third in Iran and two-thirds in Iraq.

The Helmand is also a border river that flows from Afghanistan into Iran. Iran has protested Afghanistan’s use of its water rights.

An environmental expert in Tehran told Deutsche Welle in this regard: “The fundamental issue in Iran, in addition to border rivers and wetlands, is the weakness of water management.” According to this expert, the water issue should not be “used as a tool,” and cooperation on the joint exploitation of border rivers with neighbors could benefit all interested countries.

Iraqi Authorities Have Not Protested

Iraqi authorities have not protested the cutting off of the Little Zab River. Iran has also remained silent on the matter. However, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has strongly protested the cutting off of the Little Zab’s flow.

Regional authorities said that the sudden cutting of water has had negative consequences for the 80,000-strong population of Kalardashan city in Sulaymaniyah Province in Iraq and has harmed fishing, agriculture, and livestock sectors. According to regional authorities, cutting off the Zab water has political motivation and is being used to “apply pressure and counter the holding of a referendum on the independence of this region.”

Minister of Agriculture of the Region: Cutting the Zab is Political

Abdul Sattar Majid, Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, said in an interview with Anadolu Agency (July 1) in this regard: “Iran is using this issue as a pressure lever and in a way is showing its influence in the region. We believe this is an attack by Iran against our decision to hold a referendum.”

Regional authorities also announced that they have negotiated with Iraqi central officials “to pressure Iran to back down from this decision.”

The Region’s agriculture minister also said that Iran wants to make the best use of the Zab River’s water, but this should not cause harm to its neighbors.

Source: DW