Battle Lines 'Worse than war with Israel': Why Iran's regime is on edge
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Nov 10, 2025 In this insightful discussion, Akhtar Makoii, an Iran correspondent for The Telegraph, and Kaveh Madani, an environmental scientist and former Iranian deputy, delve into Iran's escalating water crisis. They explore the dire implications of ongoing drought affecting major cities like Tehran, Isfahan, and Mashhad, and how it could trigger political unrest. Kaveh breaks down the mismanagement in water policies, while Akhtar warns of potential evacuations. Together, they highlight the twin factors of climate change and policy failures driving Iran to a tipping point.
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Tehran's Drought Is A National Emergency
- Tehran faces an environmental crisis as severe as a military threat, with reservoirs running dry and rationing starting.
- The drought's scale and urban impact are unprecedented and force political attention.
Karaj And Talaghan Dams Running Dry
- Akhtar Makoii explains that Karaj Dam, which supplies most of Tehran, may only last 10 days and Talaghan Dam is already dry.
- He notes rationing is already implemented quietly in neighbourhoods with multi-hour nightly cutoffs.
Crisis From Climate And Long-Term Overuse
- Kaveh Madani frames Iran's water crisis as a compound problem: climate change plus long-term overuse and economic policy.
- Iran has consumed non-renewable water and delayed politically costly reforms, leaving little short-term resilience.