Water is like a double-edged sword that can be a catalyst for peace, help countries build cordial ties and settle differences, but also can create conflicts leading to war.
Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian made the statement last week in Tehran during the third annual convention of Iranian Peace Studies Scientific Association, ILNA reported.
Water ownership, management and use have joined the list of the most critical problems in the world, especially in the Middle East. Nonetheless, the number of water-related agreements among countries (for example between Iran and Afghanistan or Turkey) shows that the same concern can also help regional states resolve their differences through dialogue, he was quoted as saying.
“Given its geopolitical proximity (Caspian Sea to the north and Persian Gulf in the south), Iran has almost always been exposed to international water conflicts.”
Ardakanian, however, added that actual wars among countries over water are (still) not common thanks to improved dialogue and cross-border cooperation.
Yet, within countries (like Iran), competition for rapidly depleting water resources is becoming a common source of instability and conflict, especially as climate change increases the severity and frequency of extreme weather conditions, the minister added.
“It is regrettable that (in Iran) nothing has been done to prevent water-related hostilities because of which the environment has been harmed (due to inter-basin water transfer projects) and people have been killed trying to protect their share of water.”
Water problems are now intertwined with deep-seated political, demographic and economic conflicts, but it is still possible to adopt strategies to lower the ante and strive for peaceful collaboration.
The Turkish-Armenian case is a prominent example of how two co-riparians can put their tensions aside, work together in their mutual interest, and share transboundary waters equitably.
Nonetheless, the long-standing conflict over water from the Cauvery River between the Indian states Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has recently resurfaced in the context of drier climate condition. Another example is the Euphrates-Tigris Basin shared between Turkey, Syria and Iraq, with Iran comprising parts of the Tigris basin. Since the 1960s, unilateral irrigation plans altering the flows of the rivers, coupled with political tensions between the countries, have strained relations in the basin.
Reducing regional political tensions is essential for building peace and stability and promoting cooperation among states sharing water resources, he noted.
Faced with major water-related challenges, Iran is finding it increasingly difficult to provide industries, agriculture and the people with water. Water experts insist that discussing water management with other countries and drawing on their experience should be a priority.
Water management is a set of rules, practices, and processes through which decisions for the management of water resources and services are taken and implemented, and decision-makers are held accountable.
The bottom line is that how societies choose to manage the decreasing water resources has a profound impact not only on people’s livelihood but also on the sustainability of water resources.
The Iranian Peace Studies Scientific Association is a non-profit and interdisciplinary institution that aims at enhancing and promoting the academic field of peace studies. Furthermore, it provides educational and research services to peace studies enthusiasts.
