Iranian Journal of Public Policy

Iranian Journal of Public Policy

Criminal Policy Responses to Water Imbalance in Iran: Focusing on The Role of The State and Water Governance

Document Type : Research Article

Author
Associate Professor of Criminal Law and Criminology, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
10.22059/jppolicy.2026.109050
Abstract
Water imbalance in Iran is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon resulting from the interaction of legal, economic, social, managerial, institutional, and environmental factors. Its consequences include the quantitative and qualitative depletion of water resources, excessive extraction, groundwater degradation, and the intensification of social and economic conflicts. In this context, criminal policy cannot be limited to the criminalization of unlawful water-related conduct and the imposition of criminal sanctions. Rather, it should assess the role of criminal law within a comprehensive water governance framework. Using a descriptive-analytical method and relying on library sources, Iranian laws and regulations, and comparative studies, this study examines the capacities and limitations of Iran’s criminal policy in addressing water imbalance.
Keywords

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