EghtesadOnline: In his first overseas trip as Iran's energy minister, Reza Ardakanian discussed regional water challenges and explored economic and agricultural opportunities in separate meetings in Turkey and Tajikistan this week.

EghtesadOnline: Preserving water resources and reforming the national wastewater system amid a chronic water crisis are front and center to plans of Reza Ardakanian, Iran's new energy minister who boasts environmentally-friendly credentials.