As Wars Rage, a Deeper Crisis Builds beneath Geopolitics: Water Drought

Apr 5, 2026 | A Ravindra
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Even as the war between the US, Israel and Iran disrupts the global supply of oil and gas, a far graver danger looms: depleting water resources. Cities at risk include national capitals such as Tehran in Iran, Jakarta in Indonesia and Delhi in India. Tehran, now under military attack, is reeling from acute water scarcity, with major reservoirs operating at barely 8-9% capacity. Six consecutive years of drought, compounded by over-extraction of groundwater, inefficient distribution and rapid population growth, have pushed the city towards what is being termed ‘water bankruptcy’. The Iranian government is even considering shifting its capital.