IRAN'S WATER CRISIS AND THE TALIBAN
Already dire water conditions in Iran have been exacerbated by the Taliban's construction of a hydroelectric power station on the Hari River in neighboring Afghanistan. The Hari River flows into Iran's Khorasan Razavi Province, supplying water to millions of people in the country's northeast, including in Iran's second largest city, Mashhad. Access to the river has long been a point of contention between Iran and Afghanistan. Previous agreements granted Iran approximately 820 million cubic meters of water from the Hari annually, but the Taliban has not honored this quota. Instead, Taliban officials have framed their growing usage of the waterway as "reasonable and equitable use" under international law. This exploitation is part of a larger Taliban strategy aimed at self-sufficiency amid international isolation, with the Islamist movement claiming that the dam will irrigate 13,000 hectares of farmland in Herat. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, August 22, 2025; Iran International, August 22, 2025)
WASHINGTON MOVES TO SECURE CRITICAL MINERAL SUPPLY
The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is exploring a partnership with Orion Resource Partners, a prominent mining financier that manages $8 billion in assets, to establish a mining fund that could eventually reach a valuation of $5 billion. The initiative reflects Washington's efforts to secure critical mineral supply chains that are essential for clean energy and national defense technologies. China currently dominates the processing and acquisition of these resources, raising fears about the security of long-term supplies. Under the proposed agreement, DFC and Orion would contribute equal capital, gradually scaling up investment. Final terms remain under negotiation.
The partnership represents a step forward for President Trump's promotion of overseas mining deals, which would allow the U.S. government to participate more directly in resource acquisition. The proposal is also part of a broader push, occurring in parallel with Pentagon initiatives to stockpile cobalt and expand investment in rare earth producers. Orion has been active in Africa, pursuing efforts to acquire stakes in Congolese mines, where Chinese companies are also competing. For the DFC, the venture would build on recent financing commitments in Africa and beyond, ranging from rail projects to battery mineral operations. If approved, the fund would signal a more hands-on U.S. presence in global mining deals, consistent with the Trump administration’s goal to expand the DFC's reach and investment capacity. (Bloomberg, September 16, 2025)
IN SYRIA, A DEEPENING FOOD CRISIS
The fledgling government of new president Ahmed al-Sharaa is facing a new challenge as it seeks to stabilize and unite Syria after years of civil strife. The country is now facing its most severe drought in nearly four decades, leaving once-fertile wheat fields barren and farmers unable to recover the costs of planting. Crop yields have collapsed by more than half, forcing families into debt and leaving many unable to sustain themselves. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization warns of a potential wheat deficit of nearly three million tons this year – a quantity sufficient to feed more than 16 million people. And with 90% of Syrians already living in poverty, rising bread prices are driving millions further into crisis. (BBC, September 16, 2025)
ALL EYES ON UKRAINE'S LITHIUM SECTOR
Ukraine's recent decision to launch a tender for the Dobra lithium deposit has sparked both controversy and interest abroad. Typically mined in Australia and in South America, China currently dominates the processing of lithium, which is used in batteries that power a vast range of technology. Ukraine's decision to open the Dobra site for bidding comes as the country seeks to expand its critical minerals sector following its May strategic minerals agreement with the Trump administration. That agreement stipulates that the two countries will create a joint investment fund for minerals, oil, and gas projects, and American firms will be given preferential treatment in bidding for extraction contracts. Under the deal, the resulting profits will be reinvested in Ukraine, and U.S. military aid will be counted as a contribution to the fund. (Financial Times, August 27, 2025)
MINING AMBITIONS DIVIDE PACIFIC NATIONS
Pacific nations are debating how to balance environmental risks with economic gains from the deep-sea mining of critical minerals. Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands have suspended projects amid growing evidence that seabed mining causes long-term environmental damage. However, nations such as Nauru, Tonga, Kiribati, and the Cook Islands continue to pursue contracts, sometimes with Chinese firms. Kiribati originally held a contract with Canadian-based firm The Metals Company, but is now aligning itself with Beijing to find "sustainable exploration of deep ocean resources." New Zealand has followed a similar path, recently scrapping a moratorium and fast-tracking a project that could extract 50 million tons of seabed material annually, despite strong opposition from environmental groups and Māori tribes. (The Epoch Times, August 27, 2025)
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