Authorities in Iran have urged millions of citizens to sharply reduce water consumption as parts of the country endure record-breaking heatwaves and dangerously low reservoir levels.
Extreme heat pushes infrastructure to the brink
Temperatures in southern and central Iran reached over 50 degrees Celsius this week, placing enormous strain on water supplies, power grids, and public health systems. Cities including Ahvaz, Bandar Abbas and Yazd have recorded among the highest temperatures on the planet this month, according to the Iranian Meteorological Organisation.
The Energy Ministry issued an urgent appeal for households, businesses and industrial consumers to limit usage, warning that “non-essential consumption may result in enforced cuts.” Tehran’s water authority added that key reservoirs are now operating at less than 30% capacity, with evaporation accelerating due to prolonged heat exposure.
Water crisis exposes decades of mismanagement
While Iran regularly faces hot summers, climate experts and environmentalists point to a growing structural crisis exacerbated by years of over-extraction, inefficient irrigation, and poor water governance. Many rural areas have already seen wells run dry, forcing local authorities to deliver water by tanker.
Urban residents are now facing rationing schedules and reduced water pressure during peak hours. In Shiraz and Kerman, water authorities have begun restricting residential access to just a few hours per day. Reports of unrest in smaller towns have begun to surface, though state media has downplayed public discontent.
Health and agriculture under threat
Hospitals are bracing for a surge in heat-related illnesses, with elderly and vulnerable populations most at risk. Doctors in Khuzestan and Fars provinces have reported an increase in dehydration, heatstroke and kidney complications. The Health Ministry has urged people to avoid outdoor activity and stay in shaded or cooled environments when possible.
The heatwave also poses a critical threat to Iran’s already embattled agricultural sector. Farmers in Isfahan and Sistan-Baluchestan report that crop yields are declining rapidly due to both heat and lack of irrigation water. Livestock mortality is rising, and food inflation is expected to worsen in coming weeks, adding to economic pressures amid ongoing sanctions and currency instability.
Government response met with scepticism
President Ebrahim Raisi has called for an emergency task force to manage the crisis, pledging investments in desalination and water recycling technologies. However, critics argue that government initiatives have historically lacked transparency and urgency. Independent hydrologists warn that unless deeper reforms are made to water pricing, consumption limits, and agricultural policy, the country could face permanent water stress.
Iran’s clerical leadership has also invoked religious appeals for conservation, framing water preservation as both a civic and moral duty. Friday prayers across the country last week included sermons on “Islamic responsibility in times of scarcity.”
Wider regional concerns
The crisis in Iran mirrors a broader pattern across the Middle East, where climate change is rapidly intensifying water scarcity. Iraq, Syria, and parts of the Gulf are also grappling with record heat and dwindling water supplies. Regional cooperation remains limited, and transboundary water disputes—especially over rivers like the Tigris and Euphrates—risk flaring as temperatures continue to rise.
REFH – Newshub, 22 July 2025
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