Abstract

Now the countries downstream of Türkiye are experiencing a new dimension of geopolitical conflicts. The sources of Aras, Tigris and Euphrates rivers are located in Turkey and these rivers effectively affect Iran's water resources. With the strategy of enclosing these sources, Turkey has put the control of water resources at its disposal and has faced Iran with various hydropolitical challenges. This research is of a strategic type and aims to investigate the hydropolitical relations between Iran and Turkiye. This research seeks to answer the question of "what geopolitical consequences Turkey's water blockade has for Iran" and "how Turkey uses this environmental issue as a hydropolitical tool against Iran and how Iran can overcome this crisis." overcome?" The research method is qualitative with a descriptive-analytical and historical approach and the method of collecting documentary-library sources. According to the water shortage crisis in Iran and the hydropolitical strategy adopted by Turkey, the research results show Turkey's superiority over Iran in this equation. By using its geographical location, Turkey has been able to turn water into a political-economic tool, so it has the ability to use this element as a tool for bargaining, increasing influence and geopolitical power. Affected by this crisis, Iran has also faced challenges such as immigration, ecosystem changes, legitimacy challenges, internal dissatisfaction and the like. In the end, strategies to create regional convergence among the countries downstream of Turkey are proposed as a solution to overcome the crisis.