Is Iran's water crisis fueled by military-backed illegal wells?
11 days ago
- #Iran
- #Water Crisis
- #Environmental Mismanagement
- Iran's water crisis is exacerbated by unauthorized groundwater drilling by military and security institutions, notably the IRGC.
- Over 400 plains in Iran are critically stressed due to unsustainable groundwater extraction, with 220,000 unauthorized wells reported in 2017.
- The IRGC's economic arm, Khatam al-Anbiya, is heavily involved in dam building and water-intensive projects, worsening the crisis.
- Environmental expert Nikahang Kowsar describes Iran's environmental policies as 'ecological suicide,' citing unchecked dam construction and illegal well drilling.
- Kowsar criticizes regulatory bodies for complicity and corruption, leading to a lack of accountability and environmental mismanagement.
- The water crisis is framed as a national security threat, with potential for internal collapse due to ecological and social displacement.