Water Resources Minister Affirms Rains Saved Water Situation, Turkey Deal Will Substantially Improve Irrigation Levels

Minister of Water Resources, Muthanna Al-Tamimi, affirmed a significant improvement in Iraq's water situation, noting that current water security is four times better than projected levels for 2025. He also pointed out that the binding framework agreement with Turkey is set to elevate the country's irrigation level from 35% to 80% as part of a comprehensive package of projects. Al-Tamimi described the water file as a "crucial and sovereign issue" for Iraq, explaining that the country faced a "very critical" water situation at the end of 2025. However, heavy rainfall witnessed in Iraq at the beginning of spring 2026 helped salvage the situation and bolstered water reserves, which rose by approximately 35 billion cubic meters after having been below 5 billion cubic meters. The Minister criticized successive governments for neglecting the water file and the Ministry's lack of adequate allocations in previous budgets, emphasizing the necessity for a change in governmental policies. He also noted that no effective water projects have been implemented since 2003, with the exception of a limited number, and that the Ministry possesses a comprehensive strategic study for the file. In the context of the framework agreement with Turkey, Al-Tamimi clarified that it aims for joint coordination on water issues and involves exporting 30,000 barrels of oil in exchange for implementing various projects. These projects include improving irrigation levels in several governorates, ensuring water access for southern governorates, encouraging farmers, in addition to building dams and applying modern irrigation techniques. Regarding the marshes, the Minister referred to ongoing efforts to address their water status, expecting Iraq's water reserves to reach approximately 27 billion cubic meters by next November. This comes at a time when Iraq annually requires around 50 billion cubic meters of water. Al-Tamimi warned of the direct impact of political crises on Iraq's water resources, asserting that neglecting the irrigation file will exacerbate challenges and confront Iraq with a historical problem. He stressed that relations with upstream countries represent the biggest threat to water security, underscoring the necessity of coordination with Syria and maintaining good relations with Turkey specifically on this file. He considered "Iraq's biggest strategic mistake to be the failure to improve the irrigation file," indicating that adopting modern irrigation technologies reduces waste, prevents pollution, and ensures equitable water distribution. He revealed that the Ministry's most prominent project involves removing pollution from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, confirming that Iraq remains significantly behind neighboring countries in water management.