Iran reports damage to over 410 water infrastructure sites to international bodies
Iran has documented damage to more than 410 points across its drinking water infrastructure during two wars with Israel and the United States and reported the incidents to international bodies for follow-up, a senior official at the country’s Energy Ministry said on Sunday.
Hasham Amini, the head of the National Water and Wastewater Engineering Company, said attacks during the 12-day war with Israel in June 2025 and the 40-day war that began in late February damaged water supply facilities and infrastructure across the country.
He said the attacks violated international conventions and humanitarian law, arguing that civilian water supply systems should be protected from military action under international protocols and humanitarian principles, IRNA reported.
“Although international protocols, as well as the principles of ethics and humanity, dictate that no country’s drinking water facilities and infrastructure should be damaged, our colleagues were able to restore the facilities to operation immediately,” Amini said.
He added that these facilities were quickly brought back into operation, ensuring that the attacks did not disrupt the supply of drinking water and sanitation services to the public.
Amini said replacement equipment had been deployed to areas where desalination plants were damaged, including Qeshm Island, Sirik and other islands. In some locations, facilities were restored to operation within about 24 hours of the incidents, he added.
He said alternative water sources had also been used in Lorestan, Hormozgan, Kermanshah and Isfahan provinces to maintain supplies that met required quality standards. On Qeshm Island, other desalination plants were used to compensate for damage to one facility, he added.
Iranian Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi also addressed attacks on water and electricity infrastructure on March 22, calling on countries and international organizations to condemn them and describing the strikes as contrary to international law.