Mohammad Hashemi
Iran faces one of its most pressing environmental challenges: a rapid decline in water resources. Decades of overuse, insufficient planning, and unsustainable water management have pushed the country to the edge of severe shortages. President Masoud Pezeshkian recently acknowledged that past missteps have limited Iran’s options.
Reservoirs across Iran are reaching critically low levels, and drought conditions in 2025 have extended into a sixth consecutive year, with temperatures surpassing 50 °C in some regions during summer. Tehran’s main dams face severe shortages, prompting warnings that water rationing could become necessary by December, and in extreme scenarios, evacuation of some areas may be considered. The concept of “Day Zero”—when a city’s water supply runs dry—has entered public discourse in recent years, and the crisis has increasingly gained attention from government officials, while open discussions in media and public campaigns to reduce water usage reflect growing societal concern over its severity.
Historically, Iran relied on qanats—underground channels minimizing evaporation—to sustain agriculture. Over the past fifty years, however, expansion of agriculture and industry prioritized short-term productivity over long-term sustainability. Dams, irrigation networks, and inter-basin transfers were implemented without fully accounting for environmental limits. Crops such as wheat, rice, pistachios, and saffron, combined with inefficient irrigation systems that waste up to 60% of water before it reaches fields, have further strained resources. Overextraction of groundwater contributes to land subsidence and desertification, while Lake Urmia and multiple wetlands have drastically shrunk or disappeared.
Today, groundwater accounts for almost half of annual water use, with agriculture consuming almost 90% of it. Drinking water, sanitation, and industry represent only a fraction. Irrigation efficiency remains below 30%, among the lowest in the region, highlighting the ecological and socio-economic risks. Fragmented water governance compounds the crisis. Sanctions and regional dynamics limit access to modern technology and constrain transboundary water management. For example, under the 1972 treaty, Iran is entitled to 820 million cubic meters from Afghanistan’s Helmand River, yet only 119 million were delivered in 2025, emphasizing the geopolitical dimensions of scarcity.
Looking Ahead
While the challenges are severe, many experts believe the crisis is not entirely insurmountable. Coordinated reforms could improve water security, but they require substantial financial resources and a significant policy shift within the country. Key measures include integrated water and land management, modernized irrigation systems, and regulated groundwater extraction, alongside the gradual restoration of wetlands and aquifers. Urban efficiency could be enhanced through wastewater recycling, rainwater harvesting, and public education campaigns promoting conservation. Policy incentives might encourage more efficient water use in agriculture and industry, but their success depends on strong governance and long-term commitment. Additionally, regional cooperation with neighboring countries is essential to secure shared water resources, though geopolitical complexities may pose constraints. In short, real progress will demand both pragmatic planning and political will, balancing immediate relief with sustainable long-term strategies.
The Seventh Development Plan (2023–2028) and Iran’s Water Roadmap, a government strategy to ensure sustainable water management and secure resources for agriculture and households, outline ambitious targets to optimize water use and reduce agricultural groundwater withdrawals. Some environmentally sensitive projects, such as the Miankaleh petrochemical plant, have been suspended, though large-scale solutions, such as desalination and plans to transfer water from the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman to central and eastern provinces, have been proposed, they remain costly, energy-intensive, and technically challenging, making them unlikely to provide a near-term solution to the water crisis.
Despite the severe challenges, Iran benefits from significant natural advantages, including seasonal rainfall and renewable water resources—a diversity that many neighboring countries including those in the Persian Gulf lack. This provides a valuable foundation for sustainable water management if coordinated reforms are implemented. Without improvements in governance, consumption practices, and regional cooperation, however, the country risks chronic urban shortages, declining agricultural output, and climate-driven displacement. Properly harnessed, Iran’s natural endowments mean the crisis is serious but not insurmountable for now.
Addressing these challenges effectively will shape Iran’s environmental, economic, and social trajectory for decades to come, highlighting the urgent need for pragmatic, sustainable, and locally adapted water management strategies.
