France, Germany, UK say willing to reimpose Iran sanctions: Report
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Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
Climate change fueling the region's water crisis
In recent months, parts of the Middle East have been thrust into the center of an unfolding environmental emergency, one that could rival the region's political and security crises in terms of its severity and long-term impact: the deepening water scarcity crisis. Nowhere is this danger more visible than in Iran, where the specter of a 'day zero' scenario is no longer a distant hypothetical but a looming reality for Tehran's more than 9 million residents. Day zero — a term that entered global awareness during Cape Town's 2018 crisis — refers to the moment when municipal water supplies are effectively exhausted and taps run dry. In Tehran, dam reserves are now at historically low levels, with water storage hovering between 9 percent and 14 percent of capacity. This is the lowest level in decades and in some cases the lowest in recorded history. Groundwater depletion has been equally alarming: the water levels in aquifers beneath the capital have sunk by about 12 meters in two decades, triggering dangerous land subsidence that is damaging roads, buildings and critical infrastructure. Water bodies have shriveled to a fraction of their original size, with Lake Urmia's volume collapsing from 2 billion cubic meters to only about 500 million — an ecological tragedy that has destroyed habitats and livelihoods. Authorities have begun closing public offices during heat waves and rationing electricity in an effort to slow the collapse, but these measures barely scratch the surface of a problem decades in the making. The crisis is not limited to Iran. Across the wider region, similar signs of ecological distress are multiplying. Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, is depleting its groundwater at a rate of 44 million cubic meters per year, with half of its wells already dry. Kabul's population has ballooned in recent decades, placing unsustainable demands on aquifers that were never designed to serve such a large urban area. As temperatures climb and populations grow, vulnerability to disruptions in desalination capacity becomes a critical national security concern. The most vulnerable areas share certain characteristics: rapid population growth, overreliance on a single water source, weak or outdated infrastructure and political or economic instability that limits the ability to invest in long-term solutions. In Tehran, for example, the northern, wealthier districts enjoy comparatively good water quality and pressure, while the poorer southern neighborhoods face contamination risks and frequent shortages — an environmental injustice that deepens social divisions. In rural Iran, farmers depend on outdated irrigation techniques that waste enormous quantities of water; in some regions, agricultural water use efficiency is below 40 percent. Kabul's vulnerability stems from its unchecked urban expansion, lack of coordinated groundwater regulation and limited foreign aid for infrastructure repair. The crisis is not limited to Iran. Across the wider region, similar signs of ecological distress are multiplying Dr. Majid Rafizadeh At the heart of this escalating crisis is the intensifying impact of climate change. The Middle East is already one of the hottest and driest regions on Earth, but climate models predict a 20 percent to 30 percent decline in rainfall by mid-century, combined with a sharp increase in average temperatures. For Iran, the effects are already visible: rainfall in recent years has been about 50 percent below long-term averages. Extended droughts are becoming the norm, not the exception, with multiyear dry periods devastating agriculture, drying out rivers and accelerating the depletion of groundwater reserves. Climate change is not acting alone; it is amplifying and exposing decades of poor water management, short-sighted infrastructure planning and the relentless expansion of urban areas without adequate environmental oversight. The legacy of poor water management is particularly damaging in Iran, where decades of aggressive dam construction — often pursued for political prestige rather than environmental need — have altered river systems, disrupted ecosystems and undermined the natural replenishment of aquifers. Across the Middle East, agriculture consumes the lion's share of water resources, yet outdated methods result in enormous waste. In Iran, billions of cubic meters of water are lost each year to inefficient irrigation. Compounding this is the widespread lack of maintenance for water delivery systems, leading to losses of nearly 30 percent through leaks and aging infrastructure in Tehran. Some people argue that governance failures, including political interference, a lack of transparency and corruption in water-related decision-making, have prevented meaningful reforms. Population growth and urbanization have placed additional strain on these fragile systems. Iran's population has surged from about 28 million in 1969 to more than 90 million in 2025. This dramatic growth, combined with rural-to-urban migration, has driven explosive demand for water in cities. In Kabul, uncontrolled urban expansion has paved over natural recharge zones for groundwater, further accelerating depletion. Without urgent intervention, the consequences will be severe. Water scarcity threatens to disrupt economies by reducing agricultural productivity, raising food prices and increasing reliance on costly imports. It could fuel social unrest, particularly in countries where inequality already shapes access to essential resources. In fragile states such as Afghanistan, the collapse of water systems could trigger mass displacement, as people migrate in search of drinkable water. And in geopolitically tense regions, competition over shared water resources could inflame existing conflicts. Yet the problems, while daunting, are not insurmountable. Several policy measures could mitigate the worst impacts and lay the foundation for long-term water resilience. Reforming water pricing is one such step: by removing subsidies that encourage overuse and introducing tiered pricing structures, governments can incentivize conservation among both households and industries. In agriculture, switching to high-efficiency irrigation systems such as drip or sprinkler technology, reducing the cultivation of water-intensive crops and restoring natural wetlands to support groundwater recharge can yield substantial savings. Addressing leakage through large-scale infrastructure rehabilitation is equally important, as modernized pipes and reservoirs can sharply reduce losses. The crisis is not limited to Iran. Across the wider region, similar signs of ecological distress are multiplying Dr. Majid Rafizadeh Technological innovation offers another path forward. Solar-powered desalination plants, such as Jordan's ambitious Aqaba-Amman project, demonstrate how renewable energy can reduce the environmental costs of producing fresh water from seawater. Wastewater recycling and treatment can expand nontraditional water sources, reducing dependence on dwindling freshwater reserves. Groundwater recharge projects — using stormwater or treated wastewater — can help restore aquifers, while carefully planned cloud seeding programs may modestly boost rainfall in some areas. These approaches must be integrated into broader, more sustainable water strategies rather than deployed as short-term fixes. Regional cooperation will be critical, especially where countries share transboundary rivers, lakes or aquifers. Agreements to manage shared resources equitably can reduce the risk of conflict and ensure that all parties have a stake in sustainable use. Institutional reform is essential, particularly in Iran, where independent oversight bodies, transparent data sharing and collaboration between scientists and policymakers could significantly improve water governance. Financing these measures will require a mix of domestic investment, public-private partnerships and international assistance. The Middle East and North Africa region will need an estimated $100 billion in water infrastructure investment by 2030. Education campaigns — targeting both the public and political leadership — can help shift attitudes toward water conservation and encourage long-term stewardship. Water security must be embedded in school curricula, media programming and civic initiatives to build a culture of responsibility around one of the planet's most precious resources. In conclusion, parts of the Middle East stand at a crossroads. If current trends continue unchecked, these areas could face a wave of humanitarian, economic and political crises driven by something as fundamental as an inability to provide clean water. But with decisive action — anchored in sound policy, innovative technology and regional cooperation — it is still possible to avert the worst outcomes. Tehran's looming day zero, Kabul's collapsing wells and the shrinking of Lake Urmia are all warnings. Whether they become a prelude to regional collapse or a catalyst for transformative change depends on the choices made today. Water scarcity is no longer a distant problem — it is the Middle East's defining environmental challenge of our time and time is already running out. • Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian American political scientist. X: @Dr_Rafizadeh
Al Arabiya
4 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Iran FM says ‘working with China and Russia' to stop European sanctions
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday his country was working with China and Russia to prevent the snapback of European sanctions over Tehran's nuclear program after Britain, France and Germany threatened to reimpose them. 'We will try to prevent it,' the top diplomat said in an interview with state TV. 'We are working with China and Russia to stop it. If this does not work and they apply it, we have tools to respond. We will discuss them in due course.' The trio of European powers told the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday that they were ready to reimpose sanctions on Tehran if no diplomatic solution was found by the end of August. All three were signatories to a 2015 deal that lifted sanctions in return for curbs on Iran's nuclear program. The agreement, which terminates in October, includes a 'snapback mechanism' allowing sanctions to be restored. 'If Iran continues to violate its international obligations, France and its German and British partners will reimpose the global embargoes on arms, nuclear equipment and banking restrictions that were lifted 10 years ago at the end of August,' French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X on Wednesday. The 2015 deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, effectively collapsed after US President Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2018 during his first term and restored crippling sanctions. European countries attempted to keep the deal alive, while Iran initially stuck to the terms before later ramping up its uranium enrichment. Earlier this year, the United States joined Israel in bombing Iran's nuclear facilities. Israel launched its attacks while Washington and Tehran were still pursuing nuclear talks, which have not since resumed. Western powers have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, a charge the Iranian government strongly denies.
Asharq Al-Awsat
5 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Report: France, Germany, UK Willing to Reinstate Sanctions on Iran
France, Germany and Britain have told the United Nations they are ready to reinstate sanctions on Iran if it does not return to negotiations with the international community over its nuclear program, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. The foreign ministers of the so-called E3 group wrote to the UN on Tuesday to raise the possibility of "snapback" sanctions unless Iran takes action, the report said, citing a letter seen by the newspaper. "We have made it clear that if Iran is not willing to reach a diplomatic solution before the end of August 2025, or does not seize the opportunity of an extension, E3 are prepared to trigger the snapback mechanism," the ministers said in the letter, according to the report. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The British, French and German governments did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. The three European countries, along with China and Russia, are the remaining parties to a 2015 nuclear deal reached with Iran - from which the United States withdrew in 2018 - that lifted sanctions on the Middle Eastern country in return for restrictions on its nuclear program. The E3's warning comes after "serious, frank and detailed" talks with Iran in Istanbul last month, the first face-to-face meeting since Israeli and US strikes on the country's nuclear sites in June. Iranian lawmaker Manouchehr Mottaki, who served as foreign minister from 2005 to 2010, said Iran's parliament "has its finger on the trigger to withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)" if international sanctions were reimposed after any E3 invocation of the snapback mechanism. Mottaki told Iran's semi-official Defa Press that parliament would approve a bill to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal within 24 hours if the E3 invoked the snapback mechanism. During its 12-day war with Israel in June, Tehran said its lawmakers were preparing a bill that could push it towards exiting the treaty, ratified by Tehran in 1970. The treaty guarantees countries the right to pursue civilian nuclear power in return for requiring them to forego atomic weapons and cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA.
