Latest news with #Mashhadani
Rudaw Net
3 days ago
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Turkey approves increased water flow to aid Iraq amid growing crisis
Also in Iraq Unfinished Stories: End of Mesopotamia Iraq urges Turkey to increase water flow amid severe crisis Baghdad-Erbil oil talks stall over federal refusal to sign written deal: Source Three suspected ISIS members killed in Kirkuk operation A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey has agreed to increase the release of water into the Tigris and Euphrates rivers by 420 cubic meters per second daily, starting Wednesday, in response to Iraq's worsening water crisis, the Iraqi parliament announced. The agreement follows a meeting in Ankara on Tuesday between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani. According to an official statement from the Iraqi legislature, the Turkish president approved Mashhadani's 'request to release 420 cubic meters of water per second daily, starting from tomorrow, Wednesday." Mashhadani had 'requested that [Iraq's] water issue receive the Turkish leadership's attention' to ensure water access for all Iraqi citizens, 'especially in regions suffering from drought and scarcity in southern Iraq.' The statement cited Erdogan as 'responding positively,' stating, 'Turkey shares what God has bestowed upon it with its brothers in Iraq and will not withhold it from them.' Iraq relies heavily on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers for its water supply, both of which originate in Turkey. However, extensive dam projects in Turkey, including the Southeast Anatolia Project (GAP), have drastically reduced water flow downstream into Iraq. This reduced supply has led to extreme drought and desertification. Reports show Iraq now receives less than 40 percent of its historical water share, putting immense pressure on agriculture, daily use, and environmental sustainability. Iraq and Turkey are also engaged in agreements and negotiations regarding water sharing. In April 2024, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani and the Turkish President, Erdogan, signed a multi-billion-dollar strategic agreement in Baghdad to manage shared water resources. The 10-year pact included joint river management projects and opened the door for increased Turkish investment under Iraqi coordination. Despite this milestone agreement, Iraq continues to face a severe water crisis. In late May, Iraq's water reserves dropped to their lowest levels in 80 years, according to Khaled Shamal, spokesperson for the Iraqi water resources ministry. 'At the start of the summer season, we should have at least 18 billion cubic meters of water. Today, we only have about 10 billion,' he warned in an interview with Rudaw, noting that agricultural plans have been drastically cut. Given the ongoing crisis, Iraqi politicians have consistently called for a binding, comprehensive international agreement with Turkey to secure Iraq's fair share of water and ensure long-term sustainability. Public pressure is also growing. Southern provinces like Basra have seen widespread protests in recent weeks over severe water shortages and pollution. Beyond the water issue, the Iraqi Parliament Speaker, Mashhadani, emphasized Iraq's current security and stability as an opportunity for deepened economic ties. He encouraged 'reputable Turkish companies" to invest in strategic projects, including the ambitious Development Road Project, which he said will have "a profound impact on the region's economic and political stability." The Development Road Project - also known as the Dry Canal Project - is a $17 billion transit project that will link the Persian Gulf to Europe through Iraq's Grand Faw Port, continuing to the Turkish border at Faysh Khabur southwest of the Kurdistan Region. The project aims to enhance Iraq's geopolitical position, boost the economy, and create thousands of jobs.
Rudaw Net
4 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iraq urges Turkey to increase water flow amid severe crisis
Also in Iraq Baghdad-Erbil oil talks stall over federal refusal to sign written deal: Source Three suspected ISIS members killed in Kirkuk operation Three rockets target Kirkuk Iraq president appoints new Federal Supreme Court chief amid judicial turmoil A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani met with his Turkish counterpart Numan Kurtulmus in Ankara on Tuesday, urging increased water releases into the Tigris and Euphrates rivers as Iraq grapples with a worsening water crisis, largely caused by upstream dam projects in Turkey. In a statement, the Iraqi legislature said Mashhadani stressed the urgent need to boost water flows, "especially at this time of year, and in a way that ensures water reaches all Iraqi provinces, particularly the southern ones." Iraq is heavily reliant on the Tigris and Euphrates for its water supply, with both rivers originating in Turkey. However, Ankara's large-scale dam developments, including the Southeast Anatolia Project (GAP), have significantly reduced downstream flow into Iraq. The reduced water supply has contributed to widespread drought and desertification, with reports indicating that Iraq is receiving less than 40 percent of its historical water share. Addressing broader regional concerns, Mashhadani told his Turkish counterpart that his visit 'comes at a difficult and existential security juncture and challenge in the Middle East,' stressing that Iraq aims to avoid being drawn into regional conflicts. The meeting follows a major regional escalation that began on June 13, when Israeli airstrikes inside Iran killed several senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. In retaliation, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel. Tensions escalated further on June 20 when the United States struck three of Iran's key nuclear facilities - Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz. Iran responded the next day by launching ballistic missiles at al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military base in the region. US President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran last week, which so far appears to be holding. Throughout the conflict, Iraq consistently called for de-escalation and condemned what it described as 'Israeli aggression' against Iran. Baghdad also rejected the use of Iraqi airspace for launching attacks on Iran and filed a complaint against Israel with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). For his part, the Turkish Parliament Speaker Kurtulmus was quoted by the Iraqi parliament's Tuesday statement as hoping that Mashhadani's visit 'could be a good omen for strengthening and developing economic and political relations between the two countries.' He emphasized the shared history and geography between Turkey and Iraq, stating, 'Our future is one, and we hope Iraq becomes one of the region's strongest countries.' Both sides agreed on enhancing economic cooperation, encouraging Turkish investment in Iraq, and improving bilateral communication, the statement concluded. Iraq and Turkey are currently engaged in agreements and negotiations regarding water sharing. In April 2024, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a multi-billion-dollar strategic water agreement in Baghdad. The 10-year pact includes joint projects for improved water management on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and permits Turkish investment in coordination with Iraqi authorities. Despite this milestone agreement, Iraq continues to face a severe water crisis. In late May, a senior official from the Iraqi water resources ministry told Rudaw that the country's water reserves had dropped to their lowest levels in 80 years. Khaled Shamal, spokesperson for the ministry and director of the General Authority for Irrigation and Reclamation Projects, warned that the situation would force Iraq to significantly reduce its summer agricultural plans. 'At the start of the summer season, we should have at least 18 billion cubic meters of water. Today, we only have about 10 billion,' Shamal said, adding, 'We have not seen reserves this low in 80 years.' Given the ongoing crisis, Iraqi politicians have consistently called for a binding, comprehensive international agreement with Turkey to secure Iraq's fair share of water and ensure long-term sustainability.
