The impact of environmental diplomacy on water crisis on the borderlands of Iran (case study: The Hirmand Watersheds)

In today's world, water is a vital and irreplaceable substance. Negotiating over this strategic substance is consultation with the fate of the present and future generations of the country. Environmental diplomacy is a lever in international relations that aims to create environmental justice. Unfortunately, there has been an illusory view of it in Iranian politics. In recent years, with the unfair division of Hirmand watersheds on the borders of Iran and Afghanistan's non-compliance with international treaties, Iran has faced the challenge of the water crisis, drought, dust, and other problems. In this study, first, the amount of dependence of the southeastern basin on the types of available water resources has been investigated. Then, a description of the rules and regulations of border waters is reviewed. Finally, the most preferred causes of water crisis are discussed based on the multi-criteria assessment method (AHP). The results showed that since southeastern Iran lacks significant groundwater resources, springs and aqueducts, so, life is very complicated with the Hirmand watersheds. The results of the evaluation indicate that the crisis of water diplomacy, with the consensus of experts, weighs 0.406 at the top of the weaknesses and among its sub-criteria, lack of environmental priority in foreign policy targets is in the first place and the criterion of internal water management crisis weighing 0.236 and among its sub-criteria, the lack of storage and collection of rainwater gained the highest weakness.