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Iraq breaks deadlock with Turkey in water deal amid PKK pressure

Iran Press TV

Monday, 03 November 2025 10:01 AM

Iraq has signed a landmark water agreement with Turkey, signaling a breakthrough after months of deadlock and opening the door for joint projects to manage water resources and mitigate the country's severe drought.

The deal, overseen by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, was signed by Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Baghdad Sunday.

"The water crisis is a global crisis, and Iraq is one of the countries most affected," Sudani said. "This agreement will be one of the sustainable solutions to Iraq's water challenges and will strengthen ties with Turkey in several sectors."

The accord comes against the backdrop of strained bilateral relations, in which Turkey has long leveraged control over the Tigris and Euphrates rivers—which originate in Turkey—to pressure Baghdad over multiple issues, including the presence of PKK militants in northern Iraq, Kurdish oil exports, and regional transit arrangements.

Analysts say water has become a key tool in Ankara's strategic leverage over Iraq.

Foreign Minister Hussein on Sunday also called on PKK members who recently withdrew from southern Turkey to northern Iraq to disarm and engage in dialogue with Ankara to achieve a lasting solution.

"We support the PKK-Turkey agreement and look forward to the resolution of this issue," Hussein said during a joint press conference with Fidan, noting that armed PKK elements remain in Sinjar and Makhmur districts.

For decades, Iraq has struggled to secure a fair share of river flows. More than 70 percent of Iraq's water comes from outside its borders, with Turkey supplying half, Iran 15 percent, and Syria 5 percent, according to Ministry of Water Resources spokesperson Khaled Shamal.

Reduced flows from upstream dams have worsened Iraq's worst drought in decades, pushing national water storage below six percent, intensifying saltwater intrusion in the Shatt al-Arab, and increasing pollution in southern provinces including Basra, Maysan, and Dhi Qar.

While the agreement does not specify exact water allocations, officials emphasized its focus on sustainable water management and infrastructure development, including joint projects aimed at long-term water security.

The breakthrough follows months of failed negotiations, with sources familiar with the talks saying Turkey was previously unwilling to make tangible concessions despite Iraq's deteriorating water situation.

Analysts view the agreement as both a technical and political compromise, balancing Iraq's urgent need for water with Turkey's leverage over regional security and trade matters.

Continuous summer heatwaves, with temperatures often exceeding 50°C, have made Iraq's vulnerability to climate change starkly visible, underscoring the urgency of cooperation with Ankara to secure water for agriculture, drinking, and environmental needs.