In recent days, the United States and Iran have been engaged in the most intense fighting since the cease-fire agreement was reached on April 8th. The tensions have seen a new round of escalation.
This escalation occurred after a U.S. helicopter was reportedly shot down by Iran. At 5 p.m. local time on June 9th, the United States used this as a pretext to launch “self-defense strikes” against Iran. The U.S. Central Command stated that U.S. fighter jets used “precision-guided weapons” to strike Iranian air defense systems, ground control stations, and surveillance radar facilities near the Strait of Hormuz.
However, according to reports by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), airstrikes carried out by the US military in the early hours of the 10th local time destroyed two water storage facilities with a total capacity of 2,500 cubic meters. These facilities were responsible for supplying water to the city of Kuchastak and 10 villages surrounding it in the Beemani region. The area was already experiencing temperatures ranging from 45 to 50 degrees Celsius. Now, the US military's attack has cut off the water supply, leaving local residents in a “extremely critical” situation.
The American newspaper The New York Times confirmed on the 10th that a concrete building was damaged in the Sirk region along the Hormuz Strait in Hormozgan province, Iran. The roof had collapsed, but the newspaper stated that it could not independently confirm that this was a water storage facility, nor could it determine the cause of the damage.
Holmuzgan Province Water and Sewage Services Company director Abdulhamid Hamzeper pointed out that the American military attack caused “more than 20,000 local residents living under extreme heat and harsh weather conditions to lose access to safe drinking water.”
Local governments have indicated that they are taking emergency measures, including deploying water carriers and temporary pumping systems, to provide drinking water for affected residents.
The Financial Times mentions that the current temperature in this region ranges from 45 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius. The water supply crisis, combined with high temperatures and US military attacks, puts local residents in an "extremely dangerous" situation.
The local water supply company stated that due to insufficient groundwater reserves, the destruction of two water storage facilities posed a significant challenge to the regional water supply network, and it will be impossible to completely replace these facilities with other sources of water in the short term. The company estimated that this incident resulted in losses of approximately 1.4 trillion Iranian rials (about 6.86 million yuan). Rebuilding the water storage facilities will take some time, but they will use all available resources to restore stable water supply as soon as possible.
An Iranian reservoir destroyed by US military forces. Iranian media.
Qatar Al Jazeera reported on the 10th that before the United States and Israel instigated war against Iran, Iran had been facing drought and reduced rainfall for many years. Due to poor agricultural management and mistakes in water resource management, Iran's main water sources, including reservoirs, rivers, and groundwater reserves, have been continuously depleted.
The attacks in the United States have exacerbated Iran's water resource crisis. Isah Bozorgzadeh, a spokesman for Iran's water industry, stated that the US attacks on water storage facilities constitute war crimes.
Regarding the related reports, the U.S. Central Command refused to comment, only reiterating that the U.S. military’s targets were Iranian air defense and radar facilities. On the 10th, a U.S. defense official responded by stating that the U.S. had “noticed reports of attacks on water supply facilities.”
The Financial Times pointed out that this is not the first time that the United States and Israel have attacked Iranian civilian facilities. Before reaching a temporary ceasefire agreement, the US and Israel carried out attacks on the Beik Highway Bridge in Karaj, Iran, the Pasteur Institute, a vital medical research institution, and several universities.
The newspaper stated that the attack on September 9 was the most serious military conflict since the fragile cease-fire agreement was reached between the United States and Iran on April 8. This could jeopardize the diplomatic efforts being made between the two countries, including the extension of the cease-fire agreement, the restoration of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, and the establishment of a framework for negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear issues.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Baghaee pointed out that the United States is sabotaging the diplomatic process by using "contradictory information and repeated violations of ceasefire agreements". Israel also frequently violates the Lebanese ceasefire agreement, undermining efforts to stabilize the region. He emphasized that the Iranian military will "unhesitatingly" defend the country.
In response to a new round of air strikes against the United States, the Central Command of the Iranian Armed Forces, Houtham Anbia, announced on the 10th that the Hormuz Strait would be closed to all ships immediately. It also stated that “any ship crossing the strait will become a target for attacks.”
Iran also stated that it launched drone attacks against the U.S. Fifth Fleet stationed in Bahrain, targeting communication antennas and radar facilities of the "Patriot" air defense system. However, the U.S. Central Command denied this, stating that "no U.S. military ships were attacked."
According to British media, as Trump becomes increasingly dissatisfied with Iran's refusal to accept the terms of the agreement he proposed, he hopes to use the attack to force Iran to agree to a ceasefire, open the Strait of Hormuz, and initiate nuclear negotiations.
U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis announced on the 10th that the attack was aimed at “strengthening our military interests and enhancing our diplomatic standing.” “The Department of War is ready to set conditions to ensure that the agreement expected by President Trump is achieved. If we need to negotiate with bombs, then let’s do so with bombs.”
In recent weeks, under the leadership of Pakistan and Qatar, various parties have been trying to mediate an agreement between the United States and Iran. On the 10th, a delegation from Qatar went to Tehran in hopes of breaking the deadlock. However, due to the long-term lack of mutual trust between the two sides, the mediation efforts have remained unsuccessful in bridging their differences.
Since the conflict began in February this year, international oil prices have continued to rise. After the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the price of Brent crude oil futures reached as high as $126 per barrel. However, as countries used their strategic reserves, oil prices subsequently fell.
Canadian Royal Bank's Capital Markets Commodity Strategist and former CIA analyst Heli Ma Croft analyzed that the current low oil prices may have strengthened the White House's confidence in pursuing higher goals, thereby prolonging the duration of the conflict.
However, the energy research institution Rystad Energy warns that if military operations resume completely, international oil prices could soar to $150 per barrel. “The next few days will be critical, as it will determine whether diplomatic efforts can be reinstated or whether the conflict enters a longer and more persistent cycle of escalation.”
