Washington: The US-Israel war could now leave Arab countries thirsty. Following US President Donald Trump’s 48-hour ultimatum, Iran has launched a counterattack that has shocked the entire world. Trump warned on Sunday that if Iran did not open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, the US would “destroy” its power plants. But Iran has responded to this threat in an even more dangerous way. Iran’s military has openly stated that if its energy infrastructure is attacked, it will target the “energy, IT, and most importantly, desalination plants” of the US and its allies. This means that the war could now directly focus on water supply.
Iran is currently retaliating with equal force for every attack. If its oil plants are attacked, the oil and gas plants of Arab countries are also attacked. Therefore, it is certain that if Iran’s infrastructure is attacked, it will retaliate in a similar manner. Saudi Arabia is constantly facing drone attacks.
The Gulf countries are awash in oil, but devoid of water. These plants are a lifeline, transforming salty seawater into drinkable water. Saudi Arabia sources approximately 70% of its drinking water from these plants. Kuwait supplies 90%, Oman 86%, and the UAE also rely heavily on them. The implication is clear: if these plants are attacked, entire cities could run out of water within days. Experts say a water crisis would be even more dangerous than a halt in oil supplies, as life would come to a standstill without it.
This isn’t a new threat. The Guardian reports that in 1983, the CIA warned that attacks on these plants could spread panic and chaos throughout the region. People would flee the city, and the situation could spiral out of control. This threat was recently reflected in Iran’s accusations that the US targeted a desalination plant on its Qeshm Island. However, the US denied these allegations. The following day, Bahrain also claimed its plant was attacked.
Experts say that if this war turns into an “infrastructure war,” the consequences will be extremely dangerous. Disruptions to water supplies could lead to a crisis in major cities within days. Environmental risks will also increase, as chemicals released from these plants could pose a threat to both marine life and humans. However, there have been no large-scale attacks on these plants so far. Some experts consider this a “strategic restraint,” as an attack on water would be considered a direct attack against humanity and could spark widespread international protests.
Comments are closed.