فصلنامه بین المللی ژئوپلیتیک

فصلنامه بین المللی ژئوپلیتیک

The Sovereignty of Upstream States over Water Resources and the Realization of Sustainable Development for Downstream States: With Emphasis on Iran’s Geopolitical Water Disputes (2015–2025)

نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی

نویسندگان
Seyyed Mohammad Amin Mousavi 1
Masoud Raei Dehaqi 2
Leila Raisi Dezaki 3
1 Ph.D. student of Department of Public International Law, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
2 Department of Law, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran.
3 Department of Law, Faculty of Law, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
10.22034/igq.2025.488842.1977
چکیده
The principle of the permanent sovereignty of states over natural resources, including water resources, has become one of the foundations of international law since the 1950s, and has been emphasized in numerous international instruments, such as Article 2(1) of the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States (1974).
In its classical interpretation, this principle pertains to the absolute and exclusive authority of states to exploit natural resources within their territorial domain, such that no foreign state may claim precedence or intervene in this exploitation. However, in cases where unilateral exploitation of shared water resources results in the violation of the principles of sustainable development, causes transboundary harm, or threatens international peace and security, the right of sovereignty is accordingly restricted, and the obligations of states are elevated beyond customary duties to the level of peremptory norms or erga omnes obligations.
This article, focusing on the conflict between the exercise of upstream states' sovereignty over water resources and the necessity of observing the principle of sustainable development in relation to downstream states, seeks to revisit conceptual developments in international water law. Within this framework, international instruments and judicial precedents of the International Court of Justice are examined.
The article further analyzes the concept of "water security" as an emerging doctrine, along with notions such as "water aggression" and "anticipatory self-defense." In the final section, Iran's recent water and legal challenges with its neighbors over the Helmand and Harirud rivers and Turkey's Anatolia Project, are critically assessed.
کلیدواژه‌ها
Transboundary Waters
Territorial Sovereignty
Water Security
Sustainable Development
Water Aggression
موضوعات

عنوان مقاله English

The Sovereignty of Upstream States over Water Resources and the Realization of Sustainable Development for Downstream States: With Emphasis on Iran’s Geopolitical Water Disputes (2015–2025)

نویسندگان English

Seyyed Mohammad Amin Mousavi 1
Masoud Raei Dehaqi 2
Leila Raisi Dezaki 3
1 Ph.D. student of Department of Public International Law, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
2 Department of Law, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran.
3 Department of Law, Faculty of Law, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
چکیده English

The principle of the permanent sovereignty of states over natural resources, including water resources, has become one of the foundations of international law since the 1950s, and has been emphasized in numerous international instruments, such as Article 2(1) of the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States (1974).
In its classical interpretation, this principle pertains to the absolute and exclusive authority of states to exploit natural resources within their territorial domain, such that no foreign state may claim precedence or intervene in this exploitation. However, in cases where unilateral exploitation of shared water resources results in the violation of the principles of sustainable development, causes transboundary harm, or threatens international peace and security, the right of sovereignty is accordingly restricted, and the obligations of states are elevated beyond customary duties to the level of peremptory norms or erga omnes obligations.
This article, focusing on the conflict between the exercise of upstream states' sovereignty over water resources and the necessity of observing the principle of sustainable development in relation to downstream states, seeks to revisit conceptual developments in international water law. Within this framework, international instruments and judicial precedents of the International Court of Justice are examined.
The article further analyzes the concept of "water security" as an emerging doctrine, along with notions such as "water aggression" and "anticipatory self-defense." In the final section, Iran's recent water and legal challenges with its neighbors over the Helmand and Harirud rivers and Turkey's Anatolia Project, are critically assessed.

کلیدواژه‌ها English

Transboundary Waters
Territorial Sovereignty
Water Security
Sustainable Development
Water Aggression
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فصلنامه بین المللی ژئوپلیتیک
دوره 22، شماره 2
تابستان 1405
صفحه 73-107

  • تاریخ دریافت 19 بهمن 1403
  • تاریخ بازنگری 18 خرداد 1404
  • تاریخ پذیرش 21 خرداد 1404