Farshad Momeni argues that the Iranian regime’s dam building projects have been reckless and harmful. He highlights a surge in dam construction contracts following the Iran-Iraq War, surpassing the total built in the previous half-century. “This is incredibly unusual,” he emphasizes.
Momeni points to a concerning trend: Iran’s land subsidence rate is now more than five times the global average. He warns of “clear and alarming” resource depletion and systemic crises caused by water transfer between basins. “These relationships are so evident,” he says, “that ignorance is not an excuse.”
Momeni suggests a link between dam construction and increased seismic activity. He notes that Iran experienced a significant number of earthquakes in 2021, with Kerman recording 167 earthquakes above 4 Richter and Isfahan experiencing at least one earthquake above 5 Richter every month.
Momeni criticizes the illogical placement of certain industrial facilities. He points out that globally, over 70% of steel and petrochemical plants are located near coastlines. In Iran, however, these water-intensive industries have been built in some of the driest regions. “They then demand billions of dollars to transport water to these facilities,” he exclaims. “Fresh water, no less! This is the state of affairs in our country!”
