Interior Minister: Climate Migration Will Change Iran's Face in 5 Years

The Iranian Interior Minister emphasized that the conditions for turning the water crisis into a "major social crisis" are in place, warning that climate migration will change Iran's face in five years. Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, in an interview with the Sunday, August 7 issue of the newspaper Sazandegi, stated that water scarcity has not yet turned into a "major social crisis," but the conditions for this event are "very much in place." He did not provide details but mentioned that, according to the statistics he has, "extensive migrations" to central and northern Iran from drought-affected areas are "taking shape." According to Mr. Rahmani Fazli, if this trend continues, in five years, Iran's "face" will change "in every aspect," and the country will face a "major disaster" in the next ten years. The Interior Minister did not provide further details about these statistics. Previously, government officials had warned about the possibility of widespread migration from drought-affected areas to other parts of Iran or other countries. For instance, Eisa Kalantari, the current head of Iran's Environmental Organization, had previously warned that if the current situation continues, "water consumption in agriculture" would leave the east and south of the country "completely uninhabited" in 25 years. He also stated that this crisis could lead to the migration of 50 million people from Iran, "to the point that perhaps there will be nothing called Iran anymore." According to official statistics, 90% of Iran's water is used in agriculture, and irrigation efficiency is lower than that of neighboring countries with similar climates. Meanwhile, Davood Parhizkar, head of Iran's Meteorological Organization, also announced the "accumulated drought in Iran" and warned about the potential for reduced food security and increased diseases due to climate change. In recent years, various reports have been published about the depopulation of many villages in Iran and migration from some regions due to drought. Additionally, in recent months, protests and clashes in various cities of Iran over water transfer to other areas or water shortages have increased.