Iran’s Karun River Hits Record Lows as Water Crisis Worsens

Authorities in southwestern Iran say the Karun River basin is facing severe water shortages after levels fell to their lowest point in decades. The warning adds to growing concern over the country’s deepening water crisis, which has been driven by prolonged drought, mismanagement, and disputes over upstream water use.

The Karun is Iran’s largest river and a critical source of drinking water, farming supply, and local livelihoods in Khuzestan province. As flows shrink, residents and farmers in the region face mounting pressure, with shortages threatening agriculture and everyday access to water in already vulnerable communities.

Iran has battled worsening water stress for years, and experts have repeatedly pointed to the combined impact of climate change, poor infrastructure, and decades of unsustainable resource planning. In the southwest, the crisis has also fueled public anger, especially among communities that say they have been left to absorb the costs of failed policy decisions.

Officials have warned that conditions could worsen if drought continues and upstream tensions are not addressed. For families in the Karun basin, the immediate concern is not politics but survival: whether there will be enough water for homes, farms, and the region’s fragile economy.