As Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visits Baghdad, parliamentary and environmental voices are intensifying calls for urgent action to pressure both Ankara and Tehran to release fair water shares and save what remains of Iraq’s water and agricultural resources. These appeals come amid official warnings that 2025 will be Iraq’s driest year since 1933, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.

Iraq is facing one of its most severe water crises in 90 years, with the levels of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers dropping to unprecedented lows and water reserves in dams declining to levels that threaten both food and societal security.

Despite repeated Iraqi appeals, Turkey and Iran continue to reduce water releases, while the effects of climate change and declining rainfall worsen. The crisis has shifted from a technical issue to an existential threat affecting citizens’ lives and national stability.

Iraq’s Water Rights

Thair Mukhif, a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Water, stated that “Turkey and Iran are ignoring Iraq’s demands for water sharing, despite repeated official meetings and appeals,” blaming the Iraqi government for the worsening crisis.

He told Shafaq News Agency that “the water crisis isn’t new, but it has reached a dangerous stage, with some citizens now drinking polluted and unsafe water.” He added that the committee had contacted all relevant authorities and hosted ministers and officials to discuss the issue, but Ankara continues to disregard Iraq’s water rights.

Environmental Catastrophe

Water and agricultural expert Tahseen Al-Moussawi described the situation in the Tigris and Euphrates basins as a “dangerous drop in water levels, affecting drinking water quality.” He warned that the current water deficit threatens not only humans but the entire ecosystem.

Al-Moussawi explained that “rising pollution levels and deteriorating water quality will have dire consequences for human health, plants, and soil,” especially as agriculture has nearly halted, air pollution worsens, and dust storms may last up to ten months a year.

He also urged engagement with Iran to release water from the Karun River to mitigate the saltwater intrusion in Basra (southern Iraq), emphasizing the need for a nationwide campaign to salvage what can still be saved.

Weak Joint Management

Turkish political analyst Jawad Gök noted that “the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are sensitive issues for both Turkey and Iraq, with Iraq entitled to about 25% of their total water. However, Turkey is also facing internal droughts, prompting it to build massive dams.”

He told Shafaq News that “the problem isn’t just Turkish dams—it’s also Iraq’s weak water management and the absence of joint technical committees capable of crafting practical, sustainable solutions.” He added that Iraqi officials’ visits to Turkey are often more ceremonial than substantive, while the issue requires continuous fieldwork and clear legal agreements.

An Existential Threat

According to UN and World Bank reports, Iraq is among the five countries most affected by climate change, having lost around 30% of its productive agricultural land over the past three decades.

The Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources confirmed in July that 2025 will be the driest year since 1933 due to reduced water releases from Turkey and Iran and global climate change impacts.

World Bank estimates suggest Iraq will need $233 billion by 2040 to address its developmental and climate challenges—roughly 6% of its annual GDP—at a time when its ability to fund agricultural and water projects is steadily declining.