Interview UAE official says opening Hormuz integral to any Iran deal, describes infrastructure damage 'manageable' Abdulla Balalaa, UAE assistant minister of foreign affairs for energy and sustainability, spoke to Al-Monitor about the situation in the Gulf along with the UAE's focus on promoting privatization in the water sector and the 2026 UN Water Conference.
Oil fires, toxic air and water risks: Environmental cost of Iran war expands to region The bombing of oil facilities in Iran and critical water infrastructure in the Gulf threatens the Middle East with long-lasting environmental destruction, as have similar tactics employed in previous conflicts. Iran
Iran currency dips to new low of 1.2M per dollar as sanctions bite: What to know Since US President Donald Trump took office in January, the rial has plummeted. Iran
Turkey, Iraq sign oil-for-water deal: What to know The landmark deal between Ankara and Baghdad sets out a finance mechanism to direct Iraqi oil proceeds into Turkish-built water infrastructure. Turkey
Analysis Water for influence: Turkey moves to ease Iraq's water shortages ahead of elections By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis Jordan’s water security caught between $5B megaproject, frayed Israel ties By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Egypt intensifies diplomatic efforts to resume stalled talks over Ethiopia dam As Ethiopia admits to financial and administrative obstacles hindering the completion of the Renaissance Dam, Cairo is stepping up diplomatic efforts to complete the stalled negotiations to reduce the risk of the dam to Egypt's water security. Egypt
Basra residents reeling from contaminated drinking water Thousands are being sickened by water polluted with chemicals and bacteria in Basra, but the government has not taken action to stem the crisis. Iraq
Caspian Sea convention moves Iran closer to northern neighbors While the signing of the landmark legal convention on the Caspian Sea has exposed the Rouhani administration to criticism at home, the accord provides Iran with important advantages while leaving the door open for further talks on boundaries. Iran
Egypt joins with EU to protect water security Egypt is tackling its water crisis in cooperation with the European Union, which has pledged to finance irrigation-development projects and improve the country's water management system. Egypt
Kurdish farmers hit by water crisis With neighboring Iran diverting rivers and building dams, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq is in the midst of an already severe water crisis that threatens to get even worse, thanks to national and regional governments failing to acknowledge the urgency of the problem. Iraq
Pro-government media deny Rouhani 'sold out' Iranian Caspian Sea claims Iranian social media has been inundated with claims that the government has given away much of the nation's share of the Caspian Sea, while pro-Rouhani newspapers reject such talk as baseless. Russia
Iraq's Basra plans dam on vital river After angry demonstrations against the government in Basra about the lack of potable water, the southern Iraqi province is preparing to tackle the problem by building a dam on the Shatt al-Arab River. Iraq
Iranians flock to greener pastures on Caspian coast The nationwide drought in Iran is triggering internal migration and its water-rich areas are already suffering shortages. Iran
Drought, inefficiency lead to major power shortage in Iran Blackouts return to Iran’s electricity grid in the face of prolonged drought and record power consumption. Iran
Drought forces Iraq to abandon cultivation of crops Due to the acute shortage of irrigation water, Iraq is reducing the cultivation of large areas of land and preventing the cultivation of strategic crops that are a source of livelihood for farmers, such as rice and corn. Iraq
Turkey, Iraq trade blame as concern rises over low water Iraq points to Turkey's Ilisu Dam as the cause of its water crisis, but Ankara says Baghdad needs to manage its resources more efficiently. Iraq
Turkey delays dam plans, granting Iraq brief reprieve Ankara puts off filling its Ilisu Dam for the second time to temporarily ease Iraqis' fear that their water shortage will worsen. Iraq
