Which of the following statements with regard to the Tigris and Euphrates river systems is/are correct? 1. Both the Tigris and Euphrates rivers originate in the highlands of southeastern Turkey. 2. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers merge in southern Iraq to form the Shatt al-Arab waterway before discharging into the Persian Gulf. 3. The Euphrates River flows directly through central Iran before terminating in the Caspian Sea. Select the answer using the code given below: |ForumIAS

[A] 1 and 2 only

[B] 2 and 3 only

[C] 1 only

[D] 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A

Notes:

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Both major rivers rise in the Armenian Highlands of southeastern Anatolia (Turkey).
Statement 2 is correct: The two rivers meet at Al-Qurnah in southern Iraq to form the Shatt al-Arab river, which empties into the Persian Gulf.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Euphrates flows south through Syria and Iraq, not Iran, and drains into the Persian Gulf via the Shatt al-Arab, not the Caspian Sea.