Jordan, Australia discuss water projects

A general view shows treated water from the Samra Waste Water Treatment Plant being released into a nearby river in Zarqa. (File/AFP)
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Updated 08 October 2023
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Jordan, Australia discuss water projects

  • Climate change, population growth, refugee burden have exacerbated Jordan's water crisis, minister says

LONDON: Jordan’s Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Soud met with Australian Ambassador to Jordan Bernard Lynch on Sunday to discuss strategic water projects.

Abu Soud said the challenges of climate change, population growth and the refugee burden have exacerbated the kingdom’s water crisis, Jordan News Agency reported.

He emphasized government efforts to improve water resources, such as integrated water management, reducing water loss, and recycling treated water for commercial and agricultural purposes. 

He said Jordan plans to use alternative energy sources to power water facilities, and implement energy efficiency programs to reduce costs.

Abu Soud praised Australian-Jordanian collaboration in the fields of water and sanitation, anticipating an increase in Australian aid to implement renewable energy programs and critical water projects.

Lynch praised Jordan’s humanitarian efforts toward refugees, saying the country has successfully dealt with water scarcity despite limited resources.

He expressed Australia’s enthusiasm to help Jordan’s water sector in meeting the problems posed by climate change.


Iran says any US attack including limited strikes would be ‘act of aggression’

Updated 23 February 2026
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Iran says any US attack including limited strikes would be ‘act of aggression’

  • Foreign ministry spokesman said any state would react to an act of aggression as part of its inherent right of self-defense
  • Trump said Friday he was considering a limited strike if Tehran did not reach a deal with the US

TEHRAN: Iran said Monday that any US attack, including limited strikes, would be an “act of aggression” that would precipitate a response, after President Donald Trump said he was considering a limited strike on Iran.
“And with respect to your first question concerning the limited strike, I think there is no limited strike,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said at a briefing in Tehran attended by an AFP journalist.
“An act of aggression would be regarded as an act of aggression. Period. And any state would react to an act of aggression as part of its inherent right of self-defense ferociously so that’s what we would do.”

Trump said Friday he was considering a limited strike if Tehran did not reach a deal with the United States.
“I guess I can say I am considering that,” he replied following a question from reporters.
The two countries concluded a second round of indirect talks in Switzerland on Tuesday under Omani mediation, against the backdrop of a major US military build-up in the region.
Further talks, confirmed by Iran and Oman but not by the United States, are scheduled for Thursday.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is leading the negotiations for Iran, while the United States is represented by envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Trump is wondering why Iran has not “capitulated” in the face of Washington’s military deployment, Witkoff said in an interview with Fox News broadcast on Sunday.
Baqaei responded Monday by saying that Iranians had never capitulated at any point in their history.