Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivers a speech during a meeting in Ilam, Iran, on June 12, 2025. (Credit: Iran’s Presidential Website/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via Reuters)
Iran is grappling with a severe water crisis that threatens its foundation. President Masoud Pezeshkian recently declared, “Bluntly speaking there is no water,” highlighting a dire reality where precipitation has dropped by 40% since September 2020, totaling just 130 millimeters. This shortfall, starkly evident in southern, east-central, and eastern regions where rainfall has decreased by 50-85%, has left rivers drying and snow caps vanishing due to temperatures rising 2-3 degrees Celsius above long-term averages this spring.
The Amir Kabir dam along the Karaj river in Iran’s northern Alborz mountain range is pictured on June 1, 2025.(photo credit: Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images)
The crisis, worsened by a decade-long drought, is projected to stretch into late 2022 as fall rains delay, straining an already fragile water supply. Central to this struggle is the Amir Kabir Dam, a key water source for Tehran, located in the Alborz mountain range. Its reservoir, designed to hold 205 million cubic meters, has plummeted to historic lows, with water levels dropping 46 meters below normal and capacity shrinking to as little as 6-22% in recent months due to reduced inflow and mismanagement. This decline cripples hydroelectric power generation, triggering power shortages amid soaring summer demand for cooling. Dams across the region, operating at less than half capacity, exacerbate the humanitarian risk, with communities facing acute shortages.
Iran’s struggle highlights the urgent need for innovative water management and international support to mitigate this disaster. The lack of immediate action, especially concerning the Amir Kabir Dam, could lead to widespread hardship. As the situation unfolds, addressing this crisis is paramount to safeguard the nation’s future.
Source:
The Jerusalem Post – https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-861724
