Iran water crisis deepens as drought and US strikes cut supply

Water shortages in Iran have become daily in dozens of cities, with the Iranian Water Industry Federation reporting that 34 cities now face acute stress. About 60% of the country's population lives in the Tehran province, where five consecutive years of drought have left reservoirs low and aging distribution networks leak large volumes of water. Desalination plants have been built, but extensive pipe deterioration means much of the produced water is lost, prompting officials to call for urgent reduction of waste.

In southern Iran, U.S. airstrikes have struck water infrastructure, damaging the Bonji desalination plant and other facilities in Jask and Sirik. The attacks left dozens of villages without drinking water and forced thousands of residents to ration supplies amid temperatures above 40 °C. Locals report ongoing fears of further strikes, power cuts and internet restrictions that compound the hardship.