Iran's water emergency worsens amid heat and outagesCEFR A1
10 Aug 2025
Adapted from Reza Talebi, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Matin Hosseini, Unsplash
- Summer heat is severe across Iran and increases demand.
- Many areas have frequent power outages this summer.
- The government closed public offices in some provinces.
- Authorities say they may shut power nationwide for a week.
- Dry weather is hurting lakes and wetlands across the country.
- The capital, Tehran, is also facing water shortages now.
- Dams and wells are lower than normal this year.
- People may face water rationing and related problems soon.
Difficult words
- severe — very strong or extreme, especially weather or conditions
- outage — a time when a service stops workingoutages
- authority — a person or group that makes rulesAuthorities
- nationwide — in or across the whole country
- shortage — not enough of something neededshortages
- rationing — controlled sharing of a limited resource
- wetland — land with water, like marshes and swampswetlands
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever had a power outage at home?
- Do you save water at home?
- Have you seen a dry lake or wetland near you?
Related articles
COP30 in Belém: big finance deal but no clear fossil fuel cuts
COP30 ended in Belém on 22 November with a large finance package to mobilise US$1.3 trillion a year by 2035, but delegates did not secure clear commitments to cut fossil fuel use. Talks saw a pavilion fire and ongoing debates on implementation.
Periphery Groups Send Climate Letter to COP30
Activists from São Paulo peripheries prepared a letter of about 30 proposals to present at COP30 in Belém, November 10–21, 2025. The letter is signed by 50 collectives and 1,000 community leaders and asks for housing, waste and sanitation changes.
New commercial bee feed improves winter survival
A study published in Insects found that a new, nutritionally complete commercial feed helped honey bee colonies stay healthier through two winters and the California almond pollination, reducing winter losses and raising hive productivity.