Nadhir Al-Ansari1, Nasrat Adamo1, Sven Knutsson1 and Jan Laue1
Abstract
Euphrates and Tigris Rivers are the longest Rivers in southwest Asia. The main utilizers of the water of these rivers and tributaries are Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq. The two rivers rise in Turkey, which makes it the riparian hegemon. Some of the tributaries of the Tigris and Shat Al-Arab Rivers rise in Iran, which makes it the riparian hegemon for these rivers. Iraq and Syria are the lower countries in the basin and for this reason, they always to ensure the quantity of water required to satisfy their requirements. All these countries are in the Middle East, which characterized by its shortage of water resources. Since the 1970s conflict between riparian counties were noticed due to population growth rates, food security, energy needs, economic and technological development, political fragmentation, international water laws, water and management availability and public awareness. These caused tensions, which sometimes escalated to the verge of war. To solve this conflict a mediator is required that has the capability to bring all countries concerned to the negotiation table. Syria and Iraq are to give Turkey and Iran some incentives to cooperate. Furthermore, all counties are to adopt prudent strategic plan based on comprehensive resources development to ensure good water management and minimum water loses and waste. This due to the fact that modeling studies of the future suggest that water shortage problem will intensify.
Keywords: Euphrates River, Tigris River, Turkey, Syria, Iran, Iraq
1 Introduction
The amount of water on earth is 1.4 billion cubic kilometers (UN, 1976) and the annual fresh water required for human being use is about 1000 cubic meters annually (Gleick, P., 1996). About 97% of the available water is saline oceanic water and 77% of the remainder is stored as ice, and 22% as groundwater and soil moisture, while 0.35% in lakes and marshes.
to read full article plese click on
/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Geopolitics_of_the_Tigris_and_Euphrates.pdf
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Nadhir Al-Ansari1, Nasrat Adamo1, Sven Knutsson1 and Jan Laue1
Abstract
Euphrates and Tigris Rivers are the longest Rivers in southwest Asia. The main utilizers of the water of these rivers and tributaries are Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq. The two rivers rise in Turkey, which makes it the riparian hegemon. Some of the tributaries of the Tigris and Shat Al-Arab Rivers rise in Iran, which makes it the riparian hegemon for these rivers. Iraq and Syria are the lower countries in the basin and for this reason, they always to ensure the quantity of water required to satisfy their requirements. All these countries are in the Middle East, which characterized by its shortage of water resources. Since the 1970s conflict between riparian counties were noticed due to population growth rates, food security, energy needs, economic and technological development, political fragmentation, international water laws, water and management availability and public awareness. These caused tensions, which sometimes escalated to the verge of war. To solve this conflict a mediator is required that has the capability to bring all countries concerned to the negotiation table. Syria and Iraq are to give Turkey and Iran some incentives to cooperate. Furthermore, all counties are to adopt prudent strategic plan based on comprehensive resources development to ensure good water management and minimum water loses and waste. This due to the fact that modeling studies of the future suggest that water shortage problem will intensify.
Keywords: Euphrates River, Tigris River, Turkey, Syria, Iran, Iraq
1 Introduction
The amount of water on earth is 1.4 billion cubic kilometers (UN, 1976) and the annual fresh water required for human being use is about 1000 cubic meters annually (Gleick, P., 1996). About 97% of the available water is saline oceanic water and 77% of the remainder is stored as ice, and 22% as groundwater and soil moisture, while 0.35% in lakes and marshes.
to read full article plese click on
/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Geopolitics_of_the_Tigris_and_Euphrates.pdf
^
