Facing severe drought, Iran finds itself in a critical situation. The water reservoir levels supplying the country's major cities are below five percent. For example, the water reserves in the reservoirs serving Mashhad - the second-largest city after Tehran - do not exceed three percent, and sometimes even less. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that if rains do not begin by the start of winter, the capital will have to be evacuated.
Details about the causes of the situation and its consequences were analyzed by "Meduza." 24.kg offers you a brief overview.
Hope for Rain
Scientists note that this year's autumn in Iran has been the driest in the last 70 years. Despite rainfall in western areas, such as the Zagros Mountains, and snow on Mount Tochal near Tehran, the total precipitation remains at only one-tenth of the climatic norm.
According to "Meduza," Iranian authorities have begun a cloud seeding operation. This initiative aims to artificially create rain over the Urmia Lake basin in the northwest of the country.
Urmia Lake, the largest in Iran, has significantly shrunk, and much of its area has turned into salt flats, making it unsuitable for agriculture.
However, as the publication clarifies, successful cloud seeding requires high humidity, and currently, the air in Iran is mostly dry, including in mountainous areas where clouds typically form. Due to the water shortage in Tehran and other major cities, water supply schedules have been introduced, and people are lining up at water tanks, while prayers for rain are held in mosques.
As a result of the water crisis, electricity generation at Iranian hydroelectric power stations has decreased, and the industry is facing a shortage of water for cooling and other processes. The reduction in agricultural crop yields will also lead to rising food prices in the future.
The current economic crisis in the country is exacerbated by rising food prices. For example, a kilogram of chicken fillet costs about $3.5 with an average income of $200 per month. Many products are now sold on credit.
It is possible that Iranian authorities will have to seek opportunities to import water from neighboring countries. For instance, the United Arab Emirates has desalination technologies.
However, due to international sanctions and strained relations with neighbors, assistance from abroad may be quite limited.
Experts point to climate change and management errors as the main reasons for the water crisis.
Management Errors and Natural Conditions
As "Meduza" reminds, the Iranian plateau is devoid of major rivers and is surrounded by mountains, leading to a lack of precipitation. The last few years have been particularly hot and dry.
Moreover, strategic errors in agricultural policy have worsened the situation. Agriculture in the country relies on artificial irrigation, which consumes up to 90 percent of fresh water. At the same time, fields growing export crops are over-irrigated, and much of the water seeps into the ground or evaporates.
Read on the topic
Relocation of the capital of Iran. The president called it a forced measure
Uncontrolled drilling of wells has also contributed to the worsening water situation. Authorities previously legalized wells created without licenses, leading to the depletion of groundwater and land subsidence.
"The construction of dams for hydroelectric power stations has also disrupted the balance in rivers and created reservoirs that quickly lose water due to evaporation," notes "Meduza."
Additionally, ineffective water consumption accounting and heavily subsidized tariffs for its use contribute to the problem.
As a result of these factors, Iran is facing drought and the necessity of relocating the capital. President Pezeshkian stated that the new capital will likely be located in the Mekran region in the southeast, in a desert area that is significantly drier than other parts of the country. However, its proximity to the sea will allow for water supply through desalination.
