Baghdad: Minister of Water Resources Muthanna Al-Tamimi announced that Iraq’s water security has significantly improved, projecting a fourfold enhancement compared to 2025. He attributed this improvement to recent rainfall and a strategic framework agreement with Turkey, which is expected to boost irrigation levels by 80%.
According to Iraqi News Agency, Al-Tamimi discussed these developments during an appearance on the ‘Al-Mashhad’ program, broadcast on Al-Iraqiya News. He emphasized that water remains a critical and sovereign issue for Iraq, noting that the country faced a dire water crisis at the end of 2025. However, the onset of substantial rainfall during the 2026 spring season significantly alleviated the situation, increasing water reserves from a mere 5 billion cubic meters to 35 billion cubic meters.
Al-Tamimi criticized past governments for not prioritizing water management and indicated that the Ministry of Water Resources had been underfunded in previous budgets. He stressed the importance of reforming governmental policies related to water resources. Despite limited water projects since 2003, the ministry maintains a strategic study to guide its initiatives.
He outlined the framework agreement with Turkey, which involves the export of 30,000 barrels of oil in exchange for implementing various projects, including water-related initiatives. This agreement is set to enhance irrigation in several provinces, facilitate water delivery to southern regions, support farmers, and develop dams and modern irrigation systems. The initial phase of these projects aims to elevate irrigation efficiency from 35% to 80%.
Addressing the situation in Iraq’s marshes, Al-Tamimi projected that water reserves could reach approximately 27 billion cubic meters by November, while the nation requires around 50 billion cubic meters annually. He cautioned that ongoing political instability could disrupt water inflows, warning of a potential historic crisis if irrigation issues are neglected.
He also spoke about Iraq’s coordination with Syria to manage water shares and highlighted that relations with upstream countries, particularly Turkey, are crucial for Iraq’s water security. Al-Tamimi pointed out previous shortcomings in improving the country’s irrigation system and advocated for modern technologies to minimize waste, reduce pollution, and ensure equitable water distribution.
The minister underscored the importance of eliminating pollution from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, admitting that Iraq lags behind neighboring countries in water management. He reaffirmed that the framework agreement with Turkey is binding and a key step in securing Iraq’s water future.