We urge Iran’s incoming government to give priority to resolving the country’s worst drought in 50 years (see go.nature.com/2wkwyqn). In our view, the government needs to consult with international as well as domestic water experts to prevent the imposition of flawed agendas. It should also revise earlier policies that have contributed to the crisis.

Outgoing president Hassan Rouhani blamed the drought on a 52% reduction in rainfall since last year. However, unregulated aquifer depletion and mismanagement of water resources by the authorities (see, for example, go.nature.com/3cce7or) have contributed.

The drought and its associated dust haze is also severely affecting ecosystems in and around Iran (see go.nature.com/3jhauvc and http://pana.ir/news/1178597).