Iran is experiencing a severe and multi-faceted water crisis. Alongside drought and mismanagement, reporting and official studies identify a significant, hidden driver: military and security institutions drilling groundwater wells without authorization and often with legal or regulatory immunity. Those actions appear common enough to shape local water availability and to accelerate resource depletion.
Official and academic sources say a notable share of illegal groundwater extraction is carried out by entities linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated companies. Environmental activists interviewed for the reporting allege a significant percentage of unauthorized wells were drilled by the IRGC, though that claim has not been independently verified. Iran’s Geological Survey (2023) states that more than 400 plains are in a "critical" or "prohibited" state because of water stress, and officials in 2017 reported about 220,000 unauthorized wells nationwide.
Over the past decade Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters, the IRGC’s economic arm, has become the largest contractor for dam building, water transfer and industrial agriculture projects. Critics and experts say the widespread silence of oversight bodies has normalised illegal drilling, worsened environmental collapse and contributed to ecological displacement in key regions. One journalist and environmental expert warned this trend could become a national security and legitimacy problem as laws are bent to serve military priorities.
Difficult words
- multi-faceted — having many different connected parts or aspects
- groundwater — water located under the earth's surface
- unauthorized — done without official permission or approval
- immunity — legal protection from normal rules or punishment
- depletion — a reduction in the amount of something
- mismanagement — poor or careless control of resources or affairs
- oversight — supervision to ensure correct actions and rules
- legitimacy — public acceptance or legal right to govern
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How might drilling by military or security institutions affect local communities' water access and livelihoods?
- What actions could oversight bodies take to reduce illegal drilling and protect water resources?
- How could legal or regulatory immunity for powerful institutions influence public trust or the government's legitimacy?
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