World Water Policy. 2020;00:1–9. | 1 wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/wwp2 DOI: 10.1002/wwp2.12023 ORIGINAL ARTICLE The water crisis in Iran: Development or destruction? Mohammad Mirzavand 1 | Rahim Bagheri 2 © 2020 Policy Studies Organization. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 1 University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran 2 Department of Earth Sciences, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran Correspondence Mohammad Mirzavand, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran. Email: mmirzavand23@yahoo.com Abstract This study investigates Iran's water resources, crisis inten- sity, causes, and solutions to control and mitigate water crisis. The emphasis is on Kashan city as symbol of the Karizian civilization in central of Iran, which is now fac- ing problems in both quality and quantity of water. Carried out as a library and documentary research, we reviewed the status of Kashan's and Iran's water resources, and identified four major reasons for the present water crisis on a local and national wide scale: (a) lack of land use spatial plan- ning; (b) mismanagement, thirst for development, and self- sufficiency: (c) political decisions on water allocation; and (d) lack of proper water pricing and inability of farmers to optimize irrigation systems. As a consequence, the country is challenged with severe water problems at both local and nation-wide scale, including increasing water demand and scarcity, decreasing groundwater table, deteriorating water quality, and increasing loss of ecosystems. If integrated water resources management plan is not immediately implemented to solve this problem, it is possible that the condition will be more disastrous in the coming years. The study proposes some actions that should be immediately applied to protect water resources and avoid tragic conditions in a country with a brilliant and long history in water resources management. KEYWORDS Iran, Kashan, Middle East, water crisis, water resources management