Iraq holding talks with Iran and Syria on water resources: ministry

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraq is currently in meetings with Syria and will have further discussions with Iran to ensure it receives its fair share of water, according to the Iraqi ministry of water resources.

“Currently, there are ongoing technical meetings with the Syrian side, and there will be meetings with the Iranian side in the upcoming days in regards to securing Iraq’s share of water,” spokesperson to the ministry, Ali Radhi told state media on Thursday, adding that talks with Turkey are reaching the final stages. 

This past winter and spring saw much less snow and rainfall than average and neighboring countries have built many dams in recent years, holding onto the water in shared rivers, which has led to major problems for Iraq.

The ministry last week said that the country has enough water to last the summer and winter seasons, but long-term predictions are that Iraq will face chronic water shortages. 

The Iraqi foreign ministry announced on Saturday that they are holding talks with neighboring countries to secure the water supply.

Iraq is the fifth-most vulnerable nation in the world to the effects of climate change, including water and food insecurity, according to the UN, yet it lags behind its neighbors in creating a plan to better manage its water resources.   

Tehran is building a network of dams and canals while Ankara has constructed a mega-dam on the Tigris River at the cost of the ancient city of Hasankeyf that is now underwater.  

The United Nations’ Watercourses Convention of 1997 governs transboundary water resources, however, only a few dozen states are party to the convention, under which nations are obligated to respect and equitably share their neighbors’ water resources. The treaty has been signed by Syria and Iraq, but not by Turkey or Iran.  

Turkey and Iran in March agreed they would cooperate with Iraq on water issues.