Water matters as much as oil in the Iran war. Experts explain why. | The Excerpt
USA TODAY
Here's why oil and water disruptions in the Middle East affect energy, fertilizer and food prices here at home.
On the Friday, March 20, 2026, episode of The Excerpt podcast: Oil and water are both strategic in the war with Iran. Disruptions to either resource in the Middle East could further impact energy, food prices, fertilizer and other goods here at home. Amy Jaffe, director of the energy, climate justice, and sustainability lab at New York University, and Shafiqul Islam, director of the Water Diplomacy Program at Tufts University, join The Excerpt to explain the impact on Americans.
Hit play on the player below to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript beneath it. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text.
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Pablo Cerezo, Truck Driver:
They're horrible, they're too expensive, they're high. Sometimes you have to choose between gas and other things that you really need.













