Iran delivers drinking water to Iraq

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Iran has agreed to provide regular shipments of drinking water to the drought-stricken areas in southern Iraq.

The accord calls for Iranian ships to deliver about 650-thousand liters of drinking water every two days. The first shipment arrived last week and the second docked in the Persian Gulf port of Fao on Monday.

The areas between the southern cities of Basra and Fao have been facing a combination of severe drought and a loss of drinking water as sea water has pushed into marshlands and low rivers.

The drought has also resulted in a water dispute between Iraq and Turkey. The latter has built five dams along the Euphrates upstream from where it enters western Iraq.