This article examines the underexplored connection between poverty alleviation and the realisation of the human right to water, with a focus on Iran’s challenges and China’s policy successes. It argues that access to safe drinking water is both a prerequisite for and a product of poverty reduction, with implications for health, development, and human rights. Drawing on China’s targeted poverty alleviation strategies—particularly rural investment, community-level accountability, and tariff-based water conservation—the article assesses their applicability to Iran’s distinct political economy and fragmented water governance. While China’s centralised planning and fiscal capacity are not replicable in Iran, selective adaptation is feasible. The article proposes a conceptual framework linking poverty, water access, and governance and recommends region-specific interventions in water-scarce provinces, such as Sistan and Baluchestan. These include community-managed infrastructure and targeted subsidies. The framework also supports broader reforms, including transitioning to a knowledge-based economy, enhancing infrastructure, fostering international cooperation, and integrating water management into macroeconomic stabilisation and food security strategies. Ultimately, this article argues that achieving the right to water in Iran requires not the wholesale adoption of China’s model, but rather context-sensitive legal, economic, and institutional reforms that integrate water access into poverty-alleviation efforts.
