Karun river in danger: the lifeline of Ahwaz faces its worst environmental crisis in decades

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The Karun River in Ahwaz is facing the worst environmental crisis in its modern history, amid warnings from Ahwazi environmental activists and international experts that the river is on the verge of turning into a dead, dry stream.

The vital river stretches across Ahwaz, serving as the main artery for drinking water, agriculture, and industry in the region, while playing a central role in sustaining environmental, economic, and social stability. However, recent years have witnessed a sharp and escalating deterioration in its condition due to disastrous centralized policies and severe climate changes.

According to Ahwazi activists and field reports, the causes of this disaster are linked to several factors, most notably the excessive withdrawal of water from the Karun River and its diversion deep into Iran, which has deprived it of much of its natural flow.

Additionally, the construction of dozens of dams has obstructed the river’s course, leading to the drying up of vast areas.

The uncontrolled expansion of sugarcane cultivation an extremely water-intensive crop imposed by Iran without regard for the local environment or the river’s water capacity along with declining rainfall and worsening drought caused by climate change, has further exacerbated the crisis.

These policies have resulted in large sections of the riverbed drying up, with some areas turning into stagnant ponds emitting foul odors, causing serious health and environmental risks for local residents.

Environmental experts have warned that the continuation of water transfer policies without review will lead to social crises and forced migrations, particularly in rural areas that rely on the river for their daily survival.

In the same context, international reports have described the situation of the Karun River as an “environmental catastrophe” by all standards, stressing that the river is going through its worst state in decades as a result of systematic destruction and ongoing neglect by Iran.

Despite the severity of the crisis, Iranian authorities have shown no genuine concern in addressing the issue.

On the contrary, some official policies have been a major factor in worsening the crisis, driven by irresponsible bureaucratic competition over superficial development projects that conceal a systematic depletion of Ahwaz’s natural resources.

According to observers, continued neglect of this crisis threatens the collapse of the ecosystem in Ahwaz and puts thousands of families at risk of losing their primary sources of livelihood.