Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced a serious plan to revive Lake Urmia, emphasizing the use of both national scientific capabilities and international expertise.

During a one-day visit to West Azerbaijan Province in Iranian Kurdistan, he declared that restoring the lake is a key agenda item for his cabinet. To support this effort, several memorandums of understanding have been signed between universities in Urmia and Tabriz.

Lake Urmia Has Lost Over 80% of Its Water

Once the largest saltwater lake in the Middle East, Lake Urmia covered 5,200 square kilometers. Since 2022, however, it has lost more than 80% of its water volume. Pezeshkian stressed that both domestic knowledge and global experience will be leveraged to bring the lake back to life.

Total Drying Is Imminent

Earlier, Hojjat Jabari, Director General of Urmia’s Environmental Protection Agency, warned that the lake faces a 100% chance of complete desiccation by the end of this year.

A Decade of Decline

Over the past 10 years, nearly 8 billion cubic meters of water have been directed toward Lake Urmia, but it hasn’t been enough to halt its decline. Satellite images from August show the lake nearing total dryness, signaling the end of its natural lifespan.