Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
M.Sc. of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Land Assessment and Planning, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran
2
Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran
3
Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Earth Sciences, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran.
Abstract
This study investigates the challenges and strategic priorities of environmental water diplomacy in the transboundary river basins shared between Iran and Turkey. Given Iran’s significant dependence on inflowing rivers particularly the Aras and Tigris–Euphrates systems and the profound hydrological, ecological, and socio-economic impacts of Turkey’s large-scale dam projects (notably GAP and DAP), effective diplomatic engagement over shared water resources has become a critical component of Iran’s environmental and national security policy. To address this complex issue, a two-stage analytical framework was employed. First, a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis was conducted to identify key internal and external factors shaping Iran’s hydropolitical position vis-à-vis Turkey. This process yielded five core strategic directions. Second, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was applied to prioritize these strategies based on structured pairwise comparisons by 15 domain experts from Bu-Ali Sina, Malayer, and Ilam Universities, selected through purposive sampling for their expertise in environmental diplomacy, hydropolitics, and transboundary water governance. The results reveal a clear preference for inward-oriented institutional strengthening: the highest-priority strategy (weight = 0.532) emphasizes the principled implementation of national land-use planning through the integration of skilled, committed professionals into regional and national decision-making bodies. In contrast, externally focused initiatives such as concluding internationally monitored security and economic agreements with Turkey received the lowest priority (weight = 0.029). Overall, the findings indicate that Iran’s prevailing approach aligns with a defensive strategic posture, prioritizing domestic resilience, scientific governance, and border-region capacity-building over confrontational or high-stakes bilateral arrangements. The study concludes that sustainable water diplomacy in this context hinges not on external pressure alone, but on robust internal reforms, evidence-based spatial planning, and investment in local knowledge economies. These insights offer actionable guidance for policymakers seeking to navigate transboundary water tensions while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and regional environmental security.
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