Iran is grappling with a deepening water crisis as water levels in at least 12 major dams across the country have plummeted below 10 percent of their capacity, raising fears of a prolonged and devastating drought.

According to the Iran Water Resources Management Company, some reservoirs are now critically low, with fill rates ranging from 0 to 8 percent. In Razavi Khorasan province, Torok Dam is at 6 percent capacity, while Dosti Dam nearby holds just 5 percent. The situation is even more alarming in other regions: Vušmgir Dam in Gilan and Şemiyl Dam in Hormozgan have completely dried up, and Rudbal Dam in Fars province has reached zero capacity.

Other critical reservoirs are also on the brink of depletion. Lar Dam in Mazandaran is at 5 percent, Sefidrud Dam in Gilan is at 4 percent, and dams in Kerman, Central, and Saveh regions are hovering between 7 and 8 percent capacity.The escalating crisis prompted a stark warning from Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian on July 31. “The water crisis is one of the serious problems facing society today,” he said, emphasizing that Iran is rapidly approaching a prolonged drought that could severely impact the nation.

Decades of water mismanagement, combined with the effects of climate change and rising consumption, have pushed Iran to the edge of a nationwide water shortage. The critically low dam levels threaten agriculture, industry, and access to potable water, endangering the livelihoods and well-being of millions.

As the crisis intensifies, authorities are urging immediate action to address the looming drought and mitigate its far-reaching consequences. (ILKHA)