The Aras River is one of the major common water sources entering Iran, which has experienced a special hydropolitical situation in the context of time and as a result of the geopolitical relations of the coastal countries of this watershed. Therefore, the present study seeks to analyze the impact of the geopolitical relations pattern between these countries on its hydropolitical situation, emphasizing the components of water quality and environmental pollution. To achieve the aforementioned goal, a descriptive-analytical method and library resources, articles and reliable Internet databases, and the results of research related to the water quality of the Aras River have been used. According to the findings of the study, Armenia is known to be the main polluter of the Aras River, which pollutes the Aras River and reduces its water quality through industrial wastewater and heavy metals. However, the conflicting geopolitical alignments between the countries of the Aras River basin and, consequently, the interactive geopolitical relationship pattern between Iran and Armenia, and the two countries' location on one side of the regional geopolitical alignments, along with Armenia's upstream and hydropower location, have caused this country to not respond positively to control measures and prevent pollutants from entering the Aras, and the decline in water quality and environmental pollution has continued. Accordingly, it is necessary to create a legal structure in international forums and form a water-based organization with the aim of consensus-building, monitoring, and controlling the crisis-causing aspects of this basin, especially from the perspective of environmental pollution.
Dashti,M. and Zaki,Y. (2025). The Effects of geopolitical relations between the countries of the Aras River Basin on its hydropolitics. Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal, 31(130), 29-68. doi: 10.22034/ca.2025.729390
MLA
Dashti,M. , and Zaki,Y. . "The Effects of geopolitical relations between the countries of the Aras River Basin on its hydropolitics", Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal, 31, 130, 2025, 29-68. doi: 10.22034/ca.2025.729390
HARVARD
Dashti M., Zaki Y. (2025). 'The Effects of geopolitical relations between the countries of the Aras River Basin on its hydropolitics', Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal, 31(130), pp. 29-68. doi: 10.22034/ca.2025.729390
CHICAGO
M. Dashti and Y. Zaki, "The Effects of geopolitical relations between the countries of the Aras River Basin on its hydropolitics," Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal, 31 130 (2025): 29-68, doi: 10.22034/ca.2025.729390
VANCOUVER
Dashti M., Zaki Y. The Effects of geopolitical relations between the countries of the Aras River Basin on its hydropolitics. Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal, 2025; 31(130): 29-68. doi: 10.22034/ca.2025.729390