Iraq asks Turkey for one billion cubic meters of water over two months

BAGHDAD — Iraq has requested Turkey to increase water releases into the Tigris and Euphrates rivers by a total of one billion cubic meters during October and November, Minister of Water Resources Aoun Diab said on Sunday.

“We expect this to be a wet year starting from December,” Diab said, according to a statement from the ministry, adding, “Iraq needs increased releases to improve its water inflows for the next 50 days.”

The request was made during an official visit to Ankara led by Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, accompanied by Diab and a delegation including officials from the ministries of water resources, agriculture, environment, and experts from the Kurdistan Region. Discussions focused on managing and organizing the shared water resources between the two countries.

Ministry of Water Resources warned recently that the country has entered a “critical” stage as water levels in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers continue to fall, leaving reserves at their lowest in decades.

“This year is the harshest Iraq has seen in terms of water scarcity since 1933,” Diab said, noting that the Turkish side expressed readiness to help Iraq, despite also facing drought conditions. “Iraq is more affected because it is a downstream country,” he added.

Officials have blamed climate change, drought, and upstream dam projects in Turkey and Iran for the shortages.

Diab said the delegation provided a detailed briefing on Iraq’s water situation and its challenges. The two sides also agreed on a draft framework agreement to be signed in Baghdad, which will include major irrigation projects and dam construction, with plans to engage major Turkish engineering firms.

Iraq and Turkey are close to signing a framework agreement on water management, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said Friday, adding that the signing is expected soon in Baghdad.

Earlier this month, the Badr parliamentary bloc threatened to sever political and economic ties with Turkey over what it called a “clear hostile act” of restricting water flows to Iraq.