Part 8/9:
Compounding these crises is the pollution of the Aras River, a critical water source that supplies around 20 million people. The river, contaminated by industrial and radioactive waste, struggles with hazardous levels of heavy metals. Despite this, Iran plans to divert water from the Aras to meet its domestic needs, putting communities already exposed to years of pollution at further risk.
When management becomes rooted in desperation, states can prioritize immediate needs over environmental health. In Iran’s case, fossilized policies and corruption threaten to exacerbate an already precarious situation.