Water Wars: How US Attacks On Desalination Plants In Iran Could Leave The Country Facing Water Shortage

Amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, Iran has accused the United States of striking a freshwater desalination facility on Qeshm Island.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the attack damaged a plant that supplies drinking water to communities on the island. According to him, the incident has disrupted water availability in nearly 30 villages.

He described the strike as a serious escalation and warned that targeting civilian infrastructure such as water facilities could lead to major humanitarian problems.

The incident has also raised wider concerns about how attacks on water systems could affect millions of people during conflicts.

What Are Desalination Plants?

Desalination plants are facilities that convert seawater into safe drinking water by removing salt and other minerals.

This process is especially important in coastal and desert regions where natural freshwater sources are scarce.

There are two main methods used to produce freshwater:

• Thermal distillation, where seawater is heated until it evaporates and condenses into clean water
• Reverse osmosis, where water is forced through special membranes that filter out salt and impurities

The treated water is then transported through pipelines to homes, businesses and public facilities.

Because these plants rely on complex equipment and large amounts of energy, they are expensive to build and difficult to repair quickly if damaged.

Iran's Use of Desalination Technology

Iran has been gradually expanding desalination facilities to support water supply in coastal areas.

Officials say the country has around 95 desalination plants either operating or under development.

• Nearly 75 facilities are currently working
• Together they produce over 630,000 cubic metres of freshwater every day

Most of these plants are located along the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, including regions such as:

• Hormozgan Province
• Bushehr Province
• Sistan and Baluchestan
• Khuzestan Province

Even with these facilities, desalination contributes only a small portion of Iran's drinking water supply, as the country mainly relies on dams, rivers and underground water reserves.

Why Desalination Is Critical in the Gulf Region

Across the Persian Gulf region, desalination is essential for daily life.
Countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar rely heavily on desalinated water.

Because these nations have limited natural freshwater resources, desalination plants supply water for:

• Household consumption
• Industrial use
• Public services such as hospitals and schools

Millions of people in the region depend on these facilities every day.

In some cities, nearly all drinking water comes from desalination plants connected to coastal pipelines.

Why Attacks on Water Facilities Are Dangerous

Water treatment plants are considered critical civilian infrastructure.

When such facilities are damaged, the effects can be immediate.

Communities may suddenly face:

• Shortages of clean drinking water
• Increased dependence on water tankers or bottled water
• Higher costs for water distribution

For isolated areas such as islands or desert settlements, desalination plants often serve as the only reliable source of freshwater.

If these facilities stop operating, restoring supply can take days or even weeks.

Water Infrastructure as a Strategic Target

Experts have long warned that water systems in the Gulf could become strategic targets during conflicts.

Unlike mobile military equipment, desalination plants are large and fixed installations, making them vulnerable to damage.

Even indirect attacks - such as strikes on nearby power stations or ports can disrupt their operation because they depend on electricity and complex intake systems to pump seawater.

For this reason, analysts often describe water infrastructure as a strategic asset in regional security planning.

Rising Fears of "Water Wars"

The alleged strike on the Qeshm Island facility has intensified concerns about the possibility of "water wars", where essential water infrastructure becomes a target during military confrontations.

Experts say attacks on water supply systems could create serious humanitarian crises, especially in areas already facing water scarcity.

As tensions continue in the Middle East, the safety of desalination plants and other water facilities is becoming an increasingly important issue in discussions about regional stability and civilian protection.