Iran slams Turkey’s dam-building activity

TEHRAN: Iran yesterday described as “unacceptable” upstream dambuilding by Turkey on shared waterways, calling on its neighbour to cease such activity.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told parliament that the issue had been raised “at least three times these past months”.

Iran has faced frequent droughts in recent years, caused in part by climate change, as well as dambuilding in neighbouring countries.

Iran itself has been responsible for building dams on shared rivers with Iraq, threatening access to water. Turkey’s dam on the Aras has posed a threat to water availability in Iran. Neither country is party to the UN Watercourses Convention.