By: PMOI/MEK analyst
Iran, April 29, 2018 – Iran’s water crisis is intensifying by the day, to the point that the regime’s own experts are describing it as the country’s most deadly challenge. Despite all warnings, the gatekeepers of water, which are under the control of the regime, haven’t presented any plan and are still abusing their authority to make profits. Consequently, a problem that could have been easily fixed has turned into a national crisis affecting the livelihoods of millions of people across the country.
From a high-level perspective, the water crisis is deeply rooted in the corrupt policies of Iranian regime, and its own authorities are now admitting that it is gradually turning into a national security problem.
In this regard, on May 5, 2017, the state-run Shahrvand newspaper quoted Issa Kalantari, the chief of the regime’s so-called Environment Organization, as saying, “In the near-future, the water crisis will threaten the security and independence of the country.”
In another example, on April 4, 2018, the state-owned IRNA news agency published an article titled “The water crisis: A serious national security threat,” in which it wrote, “According to the figures declared by the power ministry, 165 cities which have a total population of 10.5 million people are in the yellow zone, and 62 cities with a total population of 6.8 million are in the orange zone. 107 cities with a collective population of 17.2 million people are in the red zone. And a total of 334 cities are being affected by the water crisis. Analysts and experts believe that the current water crisis is not the result of the wrong decisions of a few managers. The problem stems from a mismanagement and wrong policies of water sources that have lasted for more than three decades.”
IRNA refers to the recent uprisings by the farmers of Isfahan as a precursor and warning of what could happen if the water crisis propagates to other provinces. Regime authorities have declared that the water level in the country’s dams are at their lowest levels and have suggested water to be rationed in various provinces, including Tehran.
According to ILNA, the CEO of Tehran’s water company said on April 5, “Our predictions show that this year, the inflow of water from our dams will diminish by 400 million cubic meters, and running water will reduce by 700 million cubic meters. If the trend continues until next year, we will have to ration our water supplies.”
In tandem with the mismanagement of water sources, the wear and tear in the infrastructures of Tehran is leading to a lot of waste from pipe leakage and other problems. Also, the illicit activities of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), including the establishment of non-standard wells and dams in different areas and the pillage of underground water supplies, have exacerbated the water crisis.
