ایجاد سازوکارهای چندجانبه و منطقهای: تشکیل مجامع دائمی گفتوگو میان کشورهای حوزهی خاورمیانه برای مدیریت منابع مشترک میتواند نخستین گام در کاهش تنشها باشد.
تبادل داده و شفافیت هیدرولوژیک: نبود دادههای دقیق و بهروز درباره منابع آبی، یکی از موانع همکاری مؤثر است. ایجاد بانک اطلاعاتی منطقهای با همکاری نهادهای بینالمللی مانند FAO میتواند اعتمادسازی کند.
سرمایهگذاری در فناوریهای نوین: از نمکزدایی و تصفیهی آب تا استفاده از هوش مصنوعی برای پایش منابع، نوآوری میتواند ستون اصلی دیپلماسی آب در آینده باشد.
تقویت آموزش و ظرفیتسازی: تربیت کارشناسان منطقهای در حوزههای دیپلماسی محیطزیست، حقوق آب و مدیریت منابع مشترک، میتواند به پایداری سیاستها کمک کند.
ادغام موضوع آب در سیاست خارجی: در نهایت، مسئلهی آب باید در اولویت سیاستگذاری خارجی کشورها قرار گیرد؛ چرا که دیپلماسی آبی صرفاً مسئلهای زیستمحیطی نیست، بلکه پیوندی عمیق با توسعه، صلح و امنیت دارد.In recent decades, water has become one of the defining geopolitical challenges of the Middle East. A region once known for oil is now confronting the reality of diminishing freshwater resources, groundwater depletion, and severe environmental stress. Climate change, population growth, and unsustainable development have transformed water from a natural resource into a strategic issue directly linked to security and political stability.
Experts in international relations increasingly argue that “water diplomacy” is emerging as one of the most critical instruments of foreign policy in the 21st century. Without cooperation, the growing scarcity of water could trigger social tensions, migration, and even cross-border conflicts in a region already marked by fragility.
Middle Eastern countries face three structural challenges: declining renewable water resources, soil degradation, and a growing dependence on non-surface water. According to UN data, more than 60% of the region’s population lives in areas experiencing extreme water stress.
However, management policies vary widely across the region. Some states have pursued massive dam construction and unilateral extraction of transboundary waters to ensure domestic supply, while others emphasize negotiations and multilateral frameworks. Such divergent approaches have deepened mistrust and complicated regional cooperation.
From a security standpoint, water scarcity is no longer merely an environmental concern — it is an economic and humanitarian issue. The World Bank estimates that water scarcity could reduce the Middle East’s GDP by up to 6% by 2050, amplifying existing vulnerabilities.
Global experience shows that environmental crises, when managed through cooperation, can become platforms for dialogue and stability. International organizations such as the United Nations (UN), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) have played key roles in building frameworks for transboundary water management.
One successful example is the Nile Basin Initiative, supported by the UN and regional partners, which helped transform long-standing tensions into mechanisms for data-sharing and joint management. Such experiences demonstrate that shared governance, transparency, and benefit-sharing can turn competition into cooperation — an approach the Middle East can adapt.
With its deep historical expertise in water management, Iran possesses the institutional and technical capacity to shape a constructive regional agenda. Its diverse geography, shared rivers, and long experience in drought adaptation position it as a key actor in promoting equitable and sustainable water cooperation.
Recent initiatives — such as joint commissions on transboundary water management, collaborative projects to combat dust storms, and the exchange of scientific expertise — illustrate Iran’s ability to act as a responsible regional stakeholder. Moreover, Iranian universities, think tanks, and policy centers have developed valuable research on hydro-diplomacy and environmental governance, offering a foundation for future multilateral engagement.
Water is not only an environmental asset; it is a driver of economic stability. According to the World Economic Forum, water scarcity ranks among the top five global risks to economic growth. In a region where agriculture and energy remain major sources of employment and revenue, the depletion of water resources threatens livelihoods and increases socio-economic pressures.
Transitioning from traditional water management to a sustainable water economy is therefore essential. This transformation requires realistic pricing, incentives for recycling and reuse, and greater investment in advanced technologies such as desalination and AI-based water monitoring. Gulf countries have already made significant progress in this area, offering models that could be scaled through regional partnerships.
To move from crisis to collaboration, countries in the region should consider several policy directions:
Establish permanent regional water councils to facilitate continuous dialogue and conflict prevention.
Enhance transparency through shared data systems supported by organizations like FAO and UNEP.
Invest in innovation and green technology — from desalination and wastewater treatment to smart irrigation systems.
Strengthen capacity-building programs, training regional experts in water law, environmental diplomacy, and transboundary resource management.
Integrate water into foreign policy priorities, treating it as a strategic component of peacebuilding and sustainable development.
In a region shaped by historical rivalries and fragile ecosystems, water diplomacy offers a rare opportunity for unity. The Middle East must redefine its approach — viewing water not as a zero-sum resource but as a shared lifeline that demands collective stewardship.
For Iran and its neighbors, cooperation over water can serve as a platform for rebuilding trust, fostering dialogue, and ensuring long-term stability.
Ultimately, in a century of climate uncertainty, the future of the Middle East will not be determined by oil or power, but by how it manages its most vital resource: water.
Pouria Tafazoli – International Relations Specialist
