As scarcity tightens its grip on hydrological resources around the world, the first cracks of a water crisis are beginning to show. In the Middle East, where every drop is a matter of survival, the poisoning of the Aras River is not just an environmental disaster, it’s a geopolitical fault line. Amid the shifting political agendas of Armenia and Iran, the fate of this critical waterway has shifted from a shared, crucial resource to a tool of strategic maneuvering. The river’s contamination is now a highly contentious issue, depicting the dangers of prioritizing political victories over long-term environmental stewardship.
Originating from the Erzurum mountains in Turkey and flowing through Iran, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, the Aras River is a vital water source that supplies approximately 20 million people. However, the discharge of chemical, industrial, and even radioactive waste into the river threatens its use for agriculture and drinking water. This issue has become even more urgent as discussions are underway to divert water from the Aras River to supply drinking water to Tabriz and surrounding smaller cities, raising serious concerns about the safety and quality of the water intended for public consumption.
For years, the Aras River has been quietly carrying a toxic secret. Over 50 governmental and/or academic studies have consistently shown the existence of high levels of 59 heavy metals along the river. A 2012 study for example, published in the Journal of Water Resource and Protection found dangerously high levels of heavy metals like mercury, lead, and cadmium in the river near Iran’s Ardabil province. Researchers classified different sections of the river based on pollution levels, and some areas were already so contaminated that they posed serious risks to both human health and agriculture.
And it didn’t stop there. A 2017 study by Iranian researchers monitoring heavy metals in the Aras River along the Iranian-Armenian border found that key toxins, including aluminum, copper, boron, and molybdenum, exceeded safe limits. It also wasn’t just the water anymore. Tests on river sediments and local plant life showed an alarming buildup of toxins, confirming that contamination isn’t just in the water: it’s embedded in the environment. The study warned that the river’s poor water quality required immediate intervention, warnings that have gone largely ignored.
Beyond industrial pollution, climate change is making the crisis even more severe. A 2022 study conducted with Watershed Engineering and Management found that as rainfall decreases and water flow slows, pollution levels will only rise. Nitrates and phosphates, already a concern, are projected to increase sharply in the coming years. Under every climate scenario examined, the Aras River—already struggling with poor water quality—is on track to decline even further, edging toward an alarming “very bad” classification.
What is contaminating the Aras River?
The contamination of the Aras River is no mystery. Industrial waste, mining runoff, and even nuclear pollution are believed to be steadily poisoning its waters. Much of this pollution can be traced back to Armenia and Iran, where factories, chemical plants, and power stations release untreated waste directly into the river. One of the biggest offenders is Armenia’s mining industry. The Kajaran copper-molybdenum plant, one of the largest in the region, allegedly dumps heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and cadmium into the water, making parts of the river toxic. This company has also been associated with severe pollution levels in the Okhchuchay River.
Beyond industrial waste, one of the most alarming threats to the Aras River comes from the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant in Armenia as well. Located just 16 kilometers from the Turkish border and near the Aras River, Metsamor is one of the few remaining Soviet-era reactors still in operation—despite being widely considered one of the world’s most dangerous nuclear facilities. Built in the 1970s, Metsamor lacks a proper containment structure, meaning any radiation leak could have devastating consequences for the surrounding environment. The European Union has urged Armenia to shut down the plant, warning of its serious environmental risks. Yet, instead of decommissioning it, the Armenian government has extended Metsamor’s operation until at least 2036, with financial backing from Russia.
A growing source of geopolitical tensions
Despite historically strong ties, Iran can no longer ignore the worsening pollution of the Aras River. Initially reluctant to acknowledge the issue and denying Armenia’s role, Iranian officials are now openly urging Yerevan to take responsibility for the industrial waste contaminating the river. Yet, at the same time, the Iranian government is pushing forward with plans to divert water from this evidently polluted river to supply the population of northwestern cities, raising some serious questions. Why is a government that now publicly admits the Aras is contaminated insisting on making it a primary water source? Is this a sign of desperation amid Iran’s deepening water crisis, or is there another agenda at play?
Abbas Aliabadi, Iran’s Minister of Energy, insists that the water will be transferred from an unpolluted section of the Aras River. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that negotiations with Armenia are underway to address the contamination. But if the Iranian government now openly acknowledges the pollution, why is it still pushing to supply northwestern cities, home to a significant Azerbaijani population, with water from this river? Would such a decision be made if the affected regions were Tehran or Isfahan? The willingness to subject certain communities to environmental hazards while ensuring safer resources for others is not just negligence—it is environmental racism in action.
The Iranian government plans to transfer water from the Aras River to Tabriz, Jolfa, Hadishahr, Marand, Sufian, and other towns in Shabestar County—areas predominantly populated by South Azerbaijanis. This is the same population that has already borne the brunt of the river’s pollution, with regions like Ardabil seeing a rise in cancer rates linked to contaminated water. Now, instead of addressing the root causes of the crisis, Tehran is doubling down on its negligence, directing potentially hazardous water to communities that have long been ignored. This follows a familiar pattern—one seen in the catastrophic mismanagement of Urmia Lake, where government inaction led to one of the worst environmental disasters in Iran’s history. Time and again, environmental policies in Iran have disproportionately harmed minority populated regions, turning water crises into yet another form of systemic discrimination. Without immediate and transparent action, this crisis will not only escalate but reinforce yet another chapter of environmental discrimination, political disregard, and human suffering.
Turkan Bozkurt is a Canada-based human rights activist. Originally from Iran she is dealing with gender issues, human, women, and ethnic minority rights, and environmental problems in the Middle East.
The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by the authors are theirs alone and don’t reflect the official position of Geopoliticalmonitor.com or any other institution.
