Why water is as important as oil in the US war against Iran
Oil and water are closely linked in the Iran war. Experts warn that either disruption could cause energy and food prices to rise around the world.
Gas prices have been creeping up since the US and Israel attacked Iran, but in addition to oil and gas, there is another commodity in the Middle East that could have long-term consequences if the war drags on: water.
USA TODAY explores the important connection between oil and water in the latest episode of The Excerpt. In the war with Iran, both are now both strategic tools and liabilities.
“Oil built the Persian Gulf,” said Shafiqul Islam, founding director of the Water Diplomacy Program at Tufts University in Massachusetts. “Demineralized water keeps organisms alive.”
Oil and Water: The Hidden Stake of the Iran War
That’s why oil and water disruptions in the Middle East are impacting energy, fertilizer and food prices here at home.
What is a desalination plant? Why is it important?
Desalination plants remove salt from seawater, creating fresh, drinkable water.
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, there are about 400 plants along the Gulf Coast that provide water for people, agriculture and industry in one of the world’s driest regions. Shortly after the war began, Iran accused the United States of illegally attacking a desalination plant, affecting 30 villages. The United States and Israel denied responsibility. Shortly after, Bahrain accused Iran of damaging one of its desalination plants.
A 2010 CIA report concluded that the most important plants were “vulnerable to sabotage and military action.” Islam maintains that attacking or destroying drinking water facilities is a violation of international law, but that severe damage or destruction of water facilities, whether intentionally or accidentally, can lead to a humanitarian crisis.
“There are many ways to generate electricity, but you can’t replace water,” said Islam, who is also a research fellow at Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute. “If the water infrastructure that supplies water to the system is weak, it becomes very difficult to provide water.”
Entire countries across the Gulf rely heavily on desalination of drinking water. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 90% of Kuwait’s drinking water comes from desalination, as does about 86% of Oman’s drinking water.
“For all of us, water, whether desalinated or otherwise, is a very energy-intensive process,” said Natasha Hall, a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “Pumping water from rivers, pumping water from underground, treating it, and treating the wastewater that keeps our rivers and reservoirs clean here in the United States are all very energy-intensive.”
As the war continues, the possibility of spillover to the United States
Damage to water infrastructure in the Middle East could have even deeper ramifications for Americans. With energy and fertilizer prices rising, further disruption could push gas and food prices even higher.
“We’re already talking about the price crisis in this country, and I think those concerns are very serious,” said Hall, who is also Refugees International’s senior advocate for the Middle East. “At the end of the day, it’s going to be the most vulnerable Americans who really have to pay the price.”
Prices have fluctuated significantly since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to the United States and its allies. This chokepoint is an important sea route connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Up to 30% of the world’s oil moves through narrow waterways.
Amy Jaffe, director of New York University’s Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab, said that even though the United States is an energy-rich country, people will still feel the pinch.
“Our supplies will become more expensive because world prices, which affect U.S. prices, will be more expensive,” Jaffe said.
While oil and gas may be the main focus for now, more products will be affected, Jaffe said. A prime example is helium, which is used in medical procedures. Petrochemicals used in industries such as construction and agriculture. And fertilizer is what farmers rely on for the next planting season.
Analysts say a prolonged war could mean more pressure on U.S. consumers.
“Essentially, over the long term, energy prices will change,” Islam said. “Even the prices of groceries can change and change significantly.”
The costs of far-flung conflicts can ultimately be felt closer to home here at home, he says. Islam and more are explored in the latest episode of USA TODAY’s signature podcast, The Excerpt.
