War Deepens Iran's Water Crisis
Edna Mohamed
Attacks on desalination plants and water infrastructure by the US and Israel have worsened Iran's already severe water scarcity, which stems from years of drought and poor management. The war has compounded problems from climate change, inefficient agriculture, and sanctions, leading to protests and warnings of possible evacuations. Iran is now trying cloud seeding and cracking down on overconsumption, but reconstruction after the conflict may further strain resources.
As Iran negotiates with the US to end a three-month-long war, it faces a water crisis overshadowed by the conflict.
Iran has long suffered from years of drought and declining rainfall, but the war with the US and Israel has exacerbated the problem after attacks on desalination plants, water pipelines, and other civilian infrastructure.
Iran's main water sources, including reservoirs, rivers, and groundwater, are depleted due to years of poor management – outdated farming practices, excessive dam construction, and rampant well drilling.
According to data from the World Resources Institute (WRI), Iran's baseline water stress score is "extremely high," meaning it uses more than 80% of its renewable water supply in an average year.
How bad is the situation?
In November 2025, Iran experienced its worst water crisis in decades, after the fifth consecutive year of drought, leaving water reserves across the country nearly empty.
The water level at Tehran's Amir Kabir dam was only 8% of capacity, while 19 major dams across the country had dried up. President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that if there was no rain by December, water would have to be rationed, and if still no rain, Tehran might have to be evacuated.
Evacuations were ultimately avoided, but the water crisis led to protests in December 2025 and January 2026 over poor living conditions and rising inflation. Earlier, water shortages had sparked protests in 2021 in Khuzestan province, and in 2018 with participants criticizing government mismanagement.
Root causes of the crisis
Iran's water crisis is the result of multiple converging factors: climate change, agricultural practices, increased water drilling, declining groundwater levels, and poor governance.
Climate change has affected rainfall, causing prolonged droughts and high evaporation rates. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Tehran has pursued a self-sufficiency policy to ensure food security, especially under international sanctions. This policy has promoted water-intensive crops like rice in unsuitable areas, leading to negative impacts.
Sanctions have also made it harder for Iran to modernize its water infrastructure. Subsidized domestic and irrigation water prices encourage over-irrigation and excessive pumping. The self-sufficiency policy accounts for about 90% of Iran's water use.
A typical example is the Zayandeh Rud river in Isfahan province, which is dry nearly year-round due to water-intensive industries such as steel and agricultural lands along the river.
War makes things worse
On March 7, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the US bombed a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, affecting the water supply for 30 villages.
Attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure threaten water sources, but the full impact has yet to be assessed because the war is not over. As Iran begins reconstruction after the attacks, the water crisis is likely to worsen as resources are diverted.
The war has also caused environmental problems, including air pollution from burning oil and gas facilities, and contributes to climate change. According to a LiveScience analysis, between February 28 and March 14, the war emitted nearly 5.6 million tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from the destruction of schools, homes, and buildings.
What is Iran doing?
Although the war is a current priority, in November 2025, Iran began implementing cloud seeding – spraying chemical salts into clouds to create rain to reduce drought. The government has also announced plans to fine households and businesses for excessive water consumption.
President Pezeshkian recently called for addressing illegal well drilling and over-extraction of groundwater. He emphasized adopting modern technology and awareness campaigns on water resource management. According to Mehr news agency, he called for "planning and extensive research on modern farming methods, including advanced greenhouse farming, hydroponics, aeroponics, and other innovative production techniques."
