Not Oil, This is Iran's 'Weapon' That Makes Neighbouring Countries Tremble

Iran has threatened to attack vital water facilities, including desalination facilities, after stating that its water and energy infrastructure has been damaged in attacks carried out by Israel and the United States.

This threat emerged after US President Donald Trump gave a 48-hour ultimatum (24 March at 06:00) to Tehran to immediately open the Strait of Hormuz. Trump even promised to “destroy” Iran’s energy infrastructure if that route remains closed.

In response, Iran’s Khatam Al-Anbiya military command emphasised that any attack on Iran’s energy infrastructure would be met with targeting the energy, technology, and desalination facilities of the United States and Israel in the region.

“All energy, information technology, and desalination infrastructure belonging to the United States and the (Israeli) regime in the region will become targets,” stated the Iranian military’s official statement, quoted from Arab News on Monday (23/3/2026).

In fact, the role of desalination facilities in the Middle East is crucial, with water availability around 10 times lower than the global average, according to the World Bank.

This makes desalination facilities vital for the economy and drinking water supply in the region. Around 42% of the world’s desalination capacity is in the Middle East, according to a study published in the journal Nature.

Desalinated water accounts for 42% of the drinking water supply in the United Arab Emirates, 70% in Saudi Arabia, 86% in Oman, and 90% in Kuwait.

Iran’s Energy Minister, Abbas Aliabadi, revealed that the ongoing conflict has damaged dozens of water facilities and important distribution networks in his country.

On the other hand, attacks on water facilities are considered highly risky. Water economist Esther Crauser-Delbourg warned that such a step could trigger a much larger conflict.

“We could see major cities experiencing exodus. And water restrictions,” she said.

Water shortages also have the potential to shake the economy, including the tourism, industrial, and data centre sectors that require large amounts of water for cooling.

Nevertheless, there are several mitigation measures. Desalination facilities are usually interconnected, so the impact can be limited if one facility stops operating.

Most also have water reserves for two to seven days of consumption, enough to prevent a crisis if disruptions are not prolonged.