The Withering Land – Iran’s Destructive Environmental Policy

Introduction:

In late March, a water pipeline was set on fire in Isfahan, and the neighbouring Yazd province shut down. This was not the first time Iranians took to the streets to protest the government’s failing water policies. Locals claim that the water diverted to the Yazd province belongs to them, and that they are struggling to survive without it. Yazd closed its public institutions for two days and had to be supplemented with water trucks. It’s not just water either, Iran is crumbling, sometimes quite literally. Tehran, the capital, sinks up to 22 centimeters a year, a rate that far exceeds sustainable limits. Desertification threatens the very livelihood of millions while droughts and floods rock the country, begging the question: where did it all go wrong?

Water mismanagement and the water mafia:

Tehran has implemented numerous destructive water policies, where decades of mismanagement are now culminating in disaster. These policies originated with the introduction of the new Islamic regime, which, due to sanctions and domestic politics, instituted an extreme expansion of the agricultural industry. Water mismanagement may have been exacerbated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC was created to protect the new Islamic regime of Iran and export the revolution to the rest of the Middle East. However, it became a significant player in regional politics and receives large portions of the national budget, partly towards seemingly construction projects. The IRGC’s engineering endeavors began after the Iran-Iraq War ended. Sepasad was chosen as the firm to employ IRGC engineers, and it subsequently carried out the regime’s projects. As Sepasad partnered with a consulting firm close to the regime named Mahab Ghodss, they formed the “water mafia”. While the “water mafia” completed countless projects, it is routinely riddled with corruption. Because the IRGC operates above the law, projects pervaded with failures – like the Gotvand Dam- escape scrutiny. The Gotvand Dam was built atop a known salt formation, despite warnings it could destroy the aquatic life and the surrounding fertile farming lands, and therefore, destroy the livelihood of millions. There is an absence of reliable information on whether the dams are at all effective, and the government actively prevents any dissent on its projects. 

Harm of the Agricultural Industry:

Generally, the government has diverted large portions of rivers and groundwater for agricultural development. The water allocation is paradoxical to many: according to 2021 estimates, the agricultural sector accounted for just 9% of GDP but consumed over 90% of the nation’s usable water of the nation. This mismatch illustrates how political interests, not economic efficiency, shape Iran’s water policy. While speculative, the Islamic Regime may view rural farmers as an important base of support, or creating food independence to shield the nation from Western pressure, as supremely important. Any plan to cut the water supplies to farmers is politically risky. Although the sector produces a proportionally smaller part of the GDP, the sector also employs close to 20% of the national employment, thus, any cuts risk igniting mass protests. The agricultural sector also often uses outdated and water-intensive irrigation methods such as canal irrigation, the most common in Iran, which has a high evaporation rate. Additionally, the extensive use of government-endorsed fertilizers has polluted both the water and soil, reducing their potential for reuse. 

The disaster of Lake Urmia:

Lake Urmia was once one of the largest and most famous hypersaline lakes in the world – locals, tourists, and migratory birds enjoyed the lake alike. That version of the Lake now exists only in memory, shrinking over 90% since the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Notwithstanding the loss of a unique and important habitat, salt lakes drying up can have dangerous health effects for the population. As the salt lake dries, salt particles are left to be picked up by strong winds, which can have negative health effects when inhaled. Efforts to restore Lake Urmia face bleak prospects. The neighbouring Aral Sea, which also experienced a similar reduction in size, has defied efforts to restore it. The reduction in Lake Urmia was accelerated by, if not caused by, Iran’s water policy. The government cut the inflows to the lake by diverting the inflows of rivers to mostly agricultural use. Additionally, overuse of dams continues to cut inflows further: astonishingly 74 dams have been built on the basin of the lake. It became a casualty of the political games played in Tehran. Lake Urmia didn’t just dry up, it was drained by corruption. 

Khuzestan water protests:

In 2021, Khuzestan, a province of southwest Iran, was rocked by “the uprising of the thirsty”. It began with a culmination of frustration about Tehran’s water policies, over-damming, diverting river inflows for inefficient agriculture, and more. From humble beginnings, the protests grew and became a symbol through the chant, “I’m thirsty.” Due to a brutally dry summer, Khuzestan experienced intensive water and energy cuts, which in turn fueled protests. Despite the intensive government crackdown, which included mass arrests, directed blackouts, and periodic violence, the protests did not cease. Citizens from all over the country, including Tehran, joined the protests, either airing their own similar grievances or coming out in support of their fellow countrymen. Since 2017 Khuzestan has frequently been rocked by protests, and environmental issues remain the prominent reason. From pouring raw sewage into the Karun, to confiscating land for state development, critics maintain that decades of neglect cannot be remedied easily. Some in Khuzestan, especially parts of its large Arab minority, believe that the incompetence is deliberate sectarianism. Khuzestan is Iran’s most resource-rich province, providing nearly 15% of the country’s GDP and also containing more than 80% of the country’s oil and gas reserves. It also has an above-average unemployment rate and restricted rights for its Arab minority. The government brought water trucks as a response to the protests, but they are insufficient in combating the wider problems of dust storms, drying wetlands, and pollution affecting water, air, and soil. 

Air Pollution that spiraled out of control:

In Tehran, the nation’s capital, residents experience only a few days of clean air a year. The problem is not just confined to Tehran, Iran, as a whole, globally ranks among the worst countries in terms of air pollution. The causes of this phenomenon vary based on regions; in Tehran, the country’s industrial activity may be to blame. More than half of Iran’s industrial activity is located in the capital, while South Tehran also contains a large oil refinery. When coupled with heavy vehicle pollution, the sources of Iran’s toxic air become evident. Tehran has also experienced severe overpopulation. In 1963 it had just 3 million residents, by 2024 the population had grown to nearly ten million. Tehran also lies on the desert belt and experiences dust storms from the Gobi and the Middle East’s deserts. While the natural location of Tehran made it susceptible to poor air quality, man-made factors also played a large role. Mazut – a thick, toxic fuel banned in many countries – is still widely used in Iran’s factories and power stations. In December 2024, several cities in Iran closed schools and universities due to strong air pollution, exemplifying how severe the problem has become. Air pollution contributes to over 25,000 deaths yearly, a number that can no longer be ignored. Plans such as the 2017 Clear Air Law, meant to take heavily polluting and outdated vehicles off the roads, has been scarcely implemented. An extreme solution discussed has been the relocation of the capital to Makran, on the other side of the country. 

The Recent port explosion:

On April 26, while people worked their day like any other, a fire mysteriously broke out in Port Rajaee in Bandar Abbas, and suddenly, a part of the port exploded. While the Iranian government has not disclosed the origin of the explosion, Western reports point to sodium perchlorate being improperly stored. The chemical is used to make fuel for ballistic missiles, but the Islamic Republic has denied these reports. The blast killed over 70 people and injured more than 1000. Regardless of the chemical’s intended use, its improper storage points to a familiar offender: institutional negligence, protected by secrecy and lack of responsibility. Iran is not running out of water, air, or land, it’s running out of accountability.

Works Cited

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