Iran's water crisis is driven by bad policies, but tech can help

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Authorities in Iran often blame drought or overuse of water for shortages, but the evidence points clearly to mismanagement, including excessive dam construction, failure to crack down on illegal wells and the expansion of water-intensive farming and industry.

This is not solely because of climate change; it is a textbook case of human error and choices that favour quick gains over long-term survival.

If Iran doesn’t act to end this mismanagement, the consequences will extend beyond its borders and will include forced migration, conflict, poverty and famine.

Decades of poor decisions have turned a challenge into a national disaster. Iran’s groundwater, a lifeline in this arid land, is vanishing fast.

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