Latest news with #AounDiab
Shafaq News
a day ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq urges Turkiye to act in ‘most severe' water scarcity in decades
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraq's Water Resources Minister Aoun Diab called on Turkiye to increase river releases as the country faces its 'most severe' water crisis in decades, citing a sharp drop in rainfall and a continued decline in upstream inflows. Meeting on Sunday with Turkish Ambassador Anil Bora Inan, Diab warned of mounting challenges exacerbated by climate change and stressed the urgent need for cross-border cooperation to alleviate worsening water scarcity. To mitigate the drought 's impact, Diab outlined Iraq's emergency measures, including a sweeping campaign to remove unauthorized water usage, banning summer crop cultivation, and restricting irrigation to limited horticulture and raw water supply for treatment plants. He also emphasized protecting the country's ecological balance by maintaining minimum environmental flow in rivers, reducing salinity in Shatt al-Arab, and preserving the biodiversity of the southern marshes. Inan, in turn, expressed Ankara's willingness to exchange technical expertise and support water harvesting projects using advanced dam technologies, reiterating his country's commitment to implementing provisions of the recently signed bilateral water framework agreement.
Shafaq News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Tigris River flow rises after Turkish water release
Shafaq News – Ankara/Baghdad Iraq's Tigris River is witnessing a gradual rise in water levels following Turkiye's decision to increase cross-border releases, Minister of Water Resources Aoun Diab confirmed on Thursday. Diab noted that the flow has climbed by more than 100 cubic meters per second, while the Euphrates has seen no comparable increase. The impact on southern provinces is expected to be delayed, as water released from Mosul takes about 21 days to reach Basra, with substantial losses anticipated along the route due to evaporation and soil absorption, he explained. Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani had announced that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had approved a daily discharge of 420 cubic meters per second into Iraq, though a technical official at Mosul Dam reported that outflows into the Tigris currently stand at 350 cubic meters per second, falling short of the volume stipulated in the agreement.
Iraqi News
03-07-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraq to build 4 new desalination plants in Basra
Baghdad ( – The Iraqi government is preparing to construct four new desalination plants in the southern Iraqi province of Basra as part of a strategy to enhance non-conventional water supplies. The plan involves the construction of the Shatt al-Arab desalination plant with a capacity of 5,000 cubic meters per hour, the Al-Faw and Al-Siba desalination plants with a capacity of 3,000 cubic meters per hour, the Abu Flous desalination plant with a capacity of 3,000 cubic meters per hour, and the Safwan desalination plant with a capacity of 1,000 cubic meters per hour. The Iraqi government has also declared plans to construct wastewater treatment plants, notably in the southern provinces, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). On the other hand, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan approved an Iraqi request to boost water flow rates to 420 cubic meters per second in order to alleviate the country's drought issue. The Iraqi Minister of Water Resources, Aoun Diab, confirmed that the Tigris and Euphrates rivers' flow had increased during the previous two days. Diab explained that the water issue with Turkey has been discussed multiple times, the most significant of which was during the Turkish President's visit to Iraq in 2024, when a framework agreement defining Iraq's right to water was established.
Iraqi News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Iraq: Committed to the results of the 5th Baghdad International Water Conference
The Minister of Water Resources - MOWR Aoun Diab affirmed on Monday the ministry's commitment to following up on the results of the Fifth Baghdad International Water Conference. "The importance of these two conferences lies not only in the recommendations and outcomes we reached but also in the commitment and pursuit of practical and effective solutions," said Dhiab in a speech at the closing ceremony of the Fifth Baghdad International Water Conference and the Micro-Irrigation Conference - followed by the Iraqi News Agency - INA. He added, "Water is not just a resource, but a connection that unites people and reminds us that cooperation is the only way to ensure a secure and bright future." "The ideas and recommendations we discussed at this conference are the beginning of a long road that requires continuous effort and a genuine will to transform these visions into a tangible reality," he noted. Diab stressed that "the Ministry, with the support of the Iraqi government and the leadership of the Prime Minister, is committed to following up on the outcomes of this conference and translating its recommendations into projects and policies." "The ministry is also committed to implementing the initiative launched by the Prime Minister and will strive to achieve its adopted goals and principles," he highlighted, calling on "all countries in the region and the world to enhance constructive cooperation in managing shared water resources."
Iraqi News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Iraq: Turkey responded to the request to provide sufficient water in the summer
Iraqi Minister of Water Resources, Aoun Diab, confirmed on Monday that Turkey has responded to Iraq's demands to ensure sufficient quantities of water in the summer. Diab told Al Iraqiya News TV, followed by the Iraqi News Agency - INA, expressing his hope that "Ankara will fulfill its promises," noting the intention to hold talks with the Iranian side to agree on the release of sufficient quantities of water from the Karun River to prevent the advance of salt tides into the Shatt al-Arab." "The water issue was present during PM Muhammed S. Al-Sudani's recent visit to Turkey. The visit was very important, and the Prime Minister emphasized this issue in several meetings, noting that the water issue is essential for Iraq, especially during seasons of scarcity and drought," he added. He explained that "the Iraqi delegation stressed the importance of the Turkish side fulfilling its promises and ensuring that sufficient quantities of water reach Iraq in the summer. Turkish officials interacted with this issue, responded to our demands, and promised us good things." During the visit, he met with the Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Water Affairs, as well as the Turkish President's representative on the water issue. "There was an understanding of Iraqi demands from officials, and serious understandings were reached. We hope that the promises will be fulfilled and sufficient quantities will arrive in the summer, especially since there are indications that temperatures will be high," he highlighted. Regarding the talks with the Iranian side, Diab explained that "in the coming days, there will be direct contact with Iranian officials regarding the water issue, especially the Karun River issue, as Iraq is demanding a reasonable flow of water to prevent the advance of salt tides into the Shatt al-Arab. In return, there are good flows from tributaries coming from Iran, especially the Sirwan River, which feeds the Darbandikhan Dam, as well as the tributaries that feed the Hemrin Dam."
