Commentary
May 18, 2026
A man views the low water inlet of the river upstream of the Amir Kabir dam along the Karaj river in Iran's northern Alborz mountain range on June 1, 2025. (Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images)
6 min read
For most of the world, the biggest impact of the ongoing conflict in the Persian Gulf region has been increased energy prices. For the Middle East itself, however, the most enduring impact may involve worsening the region’s long-standing water crisis. The current conflict has highlighted vulnerabilities in the region’s water infrastructure at a time when climate change, groundwater depletion, and unsustainable management practices are worsening water insecurity.
