Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian warned against excessive water consumption which he said was untenable for the country and could leave Tehran facing severe shortages by September, semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday.
Faced with resource mismanagement and over-consumption, Iran has faced recurrent electricity, gas and water shortages during peak demand months.
“In Tehran, if we cannot manage and people do not cooperate in controlling consumption, there won’t be any water in dams by September or October,” Pezeshkian said on Thursday.
The country has faced drought conditions for the last five years according to the director of the Environmental Protection Organisation Sheena Ansari and the Meteorological Organisation recorded a 40% drop in rainfall over the last four months compared to a long-term average.
“Neglecting sustainable development has led to the fact that we are now facing numerous environmental problems like water stress,” Ansari told state media on Thursday.
Excessive water consumption represents a major challenge for water management in Iran, with the head of Tehran province’s water and wastewater company Mohsen Ardakani telling Mehr news agency that 70% of Tehran residents consume more than the standard 130 liters a day.
The Economist’s lead editorial on Wednesday called Britain’s promise to recognize a Palestinian state in September “a self-defeating policy” that would prolong the war and lose leverage over Israel, the Palestinians and the U.S.
The British newspaper said France and the U.K. “have most influence over Israel indirectly, through [U.S. President] Trump,” who might force Netanyahu to agree to a cease-fire. “By moving to recognise a Palestinian state, Britain and France have lost influence with him.”
“Using recognition as leverage over Israel today means that Britain and France have deprived themselves of leverage over the Palestinian side tomorrow,” The Economist wrote. “That is not a trivial thing to surrender, because the two-state deal will face many obstacles … [Mahmoud Abbas] looks unlikely to give ground willingly.”
As Prime Minister Keir Starmer “has not threatened to withhold support for recognition if Hamas refuses to release hostages or to end the war … that potential reward gives Hamas an incentive to block a cease-fire until after the UN General Assembly in September.”
“Once Hamas has pocketed Britain’s prize, Sir Keir will have lost his leverage over Israel,” the editorial reads, projecting it would make the Israeli government more extreme. “It is a self-defeating policy that fails on its own terms.”
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Thursday the recognition of a Palestinian state comes more at the end of the negotiations for a two-state solution but that process must begin now, warning Berlin would respond to “unilateral steps”.
“A negotiated two-state solution remains the only path that can offer people on both sides a life in peace, security and dignity,” he said in a statement issued shortly before his trip on Thursday to Israel and the Palestinian territories.
“For Germany, the recognition of a Palestinian state comes more at the end of that process. But such a process must begin now.”
The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry announced that 101 people were killed and 625 wounded by IDF fire in the Strip in the past 24 hours.
According to the statement, 81 were killed while seeking humanitarian aid. The ministry said the number of aid seekers killed has risen to 1,320, with more than 8,818 wounded.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson demanded that the European Union increase economic pressure on Israel to allow greater amounts of aid into Gaza by freezing “the trade component of the association agreement.”
“Israel is not fulfilling its most basic obligations and agreed-upon commitments regarding humanitarian aid,” he wrote on X.
Roi Wasserstein, 24, died by suicide on Wednesday after being discharged from around 300 days of reserve duty in the armored forces.
Wasserstein was from Netanya in central Israel and was stationed in the Gaza Strip as part of the 401st Brigade.
Wasserstein marks the seventh suicide this month. Three other Israelis who served extended periods during the war also took their own lives after being discharged.
Israeli travelers may be barred from entering multiple European countries, anonymous officials told Euronews.
Israeli citizens enjoy a visa-free status when entering the EU for trips up to 90 days. A Tuesday amendment to an EU entry-blocking mechanism now includes countries that violate human rights. This may mean mandatory visas for Israelis, sources in the European Parliament told Euronews.
However, an EU source told Haaretz that the change is not expected anytime soon. For the measures to be applied to Israel, it would need to be recommended by the European Commission and reach a majority in the EU Council, which represents 27 member states.
At this stage, there is no commission recommendation, the source told Haaretz. As for the council majority, opposition from large countries such as Germany and Italy would likely block the move.
Here are the latest updates on day 663 of the war:
■ The IDF said a preliminary probe found no wrongdoing or IDF-related casualties in a Wednesday incident that health officials said killed 48 Gazans seeking aid.
■ A Palestinian was killed during a settler attack on the town of Silwad, east of Ramallah, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.
■ The U.S. Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, landed in Israel to discuss the Gaza Strip with Israeli officials.
■ The Hamas-run Health Ministry called on Witkoff to visit Gaza and witness the humanitarian crisis firsthand.
■ Australian police said they charged a suspect in an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue in December last year.
■ MK Ofer Cassif (Hadash-Ta’al) joined a protest in Ramat Gan backing two Israelis refusing the draft over the Gaza war.
■ A U.S.-Canada trade deal will likely be harmed by the country’s promise to recognize a Palestinian state, President Trump said on social media.
■ Iran expects U.S. compensation for losses incurred during the war, the Financial Times reported, citing Iran’s foreign minister.
■ Police are still holding the body of Awdah Hathaleen, who was shot by a settler in the West Bank on Monday, despite the autopsy being completed.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that Moscow hopes that Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa will attend a summit between Russia and Arab countries in Moscow in October.
At a meeting in Moscow, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said Damascus was keen to have Moscow’s support in building a united Syria.
Sharaa came to power in December, after his forces ousted longtime Russian ally Bashar al-Assad from power.
Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy for the Middle East, landed in Israel. His office said Wednesday he will meet with Israeli officials to discuss the Gaza Strip.
The envoy will meet Prime Minister Netanyahu at 2 P.M., and will likely visit the Strip during his trip.
Gaza Authorities Say 101 Killed in Israeli Strikes Over Past 24 Hours – Haaretz
