By Matt Underwood Tehran taps run dry as water crisis deepens across Iran, and it’s got me thinking. It’s almost hard to believe, but this situation really does seem like something that could spell trouble for a government, right? When you start running out of the basics, like water and food, you know things are probably heading in a bad direction. It reminds me of a video I saw recently; it really broke down how Iran has ended up in this predicament, and honestly, the conclusion was pretty straightforward: they did it to themselves. It’s a classic case of bad decisions coming back to bite you. They should have invested in infrastructure – things like water pipelines and treatment facilities – instead of spending all that money on military tech like drones.
The real issue here isn’t a lack of water, but a complete mismanagement of what they have. It’s like they ignored all the warning signs. Instead of tackling the looming water crisis, the government seemed more interested in funding proxy conflicts. It’s almost comical how shortsighted that seems now, looking at the potential consequences. One can almost picture the future: a humanitarian crisis on their hands, the people suffering, and the regime possibly clinging to power by force.
You can’t help but wonder how this situation will evolve. A war with Israel seems like it would only make things worse, but a blessing from a higher power is also not necessarily a given in this context. And of course, the ever-present climate crisis is lurking in the background, ready to exacerbate everything. This is how a climate crisis can quickly become a migration crisis. The irony isn’t lost on me: the very people who oppose any measures to combat climate change, are also often the ones who are against immigration.
The implications are huge. We’re talking about tens, maybe even hundreds of millions of people who could be forced to migrate from places in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia to areas that are a bit more habitable over the next few decades. This is also a recipe for more resource wars.
It’s tempting to think about regime change, but what’s the likelihood of meaningful assistance from Iran’s allies? It’s easy to be cynical. Looking at the situation more closely, the immediate problem in Tehran is that it hasn’t rained in weeks, but as the input points out, the rainy season could offer a temporary reprieve. If there’s enough rain in the coming months, this could be a non-issue. But the bigger, underlying problem is the mismanagement of their water resources, coupled with the corruption and the prolonged drought.
The ability to move drinkable water around is hampered by lack of infrastructure. It’s almost impossible to do it at scale. If the situation gets really dire, people who can’t leave or can’t afford drastically overpriced water will be in serious trouble. And sadly, if that happens, the poorest will suffer the most, and the government will probably crack down hard on anyone who speaks out. The government will likely deal with any opposition harshly.
There might be a tiny sliver of hope here, though, with the US potentially gaining some leverage during any future negotiations. It’s hard to ignore that Israel is a world leader in desalination technology. Don’t they have a desalination plant? I mean, it would be useful. But the truth is, this isn’t just an Iranian problem. We’re seeing water reserves dwindling everywhere, but it’s only when things hit a crisis point that the mainstream media really starts to pay attention. The fact remains that Iran’s choices have been disastrous, but the rest of us should be using this as a wake-up call. We all need to do better when it comes to managing our resources.
One could ask why their divine power hasn’t intervened. Let’s be honest, this is a serious situation – almost as serious as not having any oxygen. Of course, some people might make jokes, offer a solution, or perhaps just want to point out the blatant mismanagement. It’s hard to imagine how a rebellion could take place without water, or how the military, might avoid the same problems. I wonder if there are enough liberal-minded Iranians to support a change? Would the change even make a difference? Is it just a replacement of one theocracy with another?
Food is also a major problem. People can fight even when they are hungry, but they certainly need energy. Corruption, incompetence, climate change, and a naturally dry climate have created a perfect storm for the water crisis. Groundwater is either polluted or disappearing. Neighboring countries building dams and diverting water aren’t helping either.
It’s worth remembering that this is how things have always been. Immigration and migration are deeply rooted in history. It would be wise to take a hard look at how immigration policies work. Too much, too soon, or not enough structure can make things difficult. One must be tolerant of intolerance. Russia’s demographic struggles could push more people towards Iran. Are wars more efficient than desalination plants? If anything, this could alleviate a demographic crisis in other places.
It’s been a problem for years, and even as far back as 2021, it already caused civil unrest. For the government to openly acknowledge a possible evacuation of Tehran indicates that they know that unrest could easily turn into riots. Let’s hope for rain. Perhaps, rather than just praying for rain, it’s time to invest in a desalination plant and pump water from the Persian Gulf.