The drying of Lake Urmia was not accidental; it resulted from reckless development of apple orchards intended for export to Lebanon. Environmental activist Mohammad Darvish repeatedly warned about this issue, but his concerns went unheard. Billions of cubic meters of fresh water were spent on apples that enriched brokers, while Lake Urmia now faces its demise.

This situation exemplifies a broader environmental warning and highlights chronic mismanagement of water resources in Iran under the Islamic Republic. Inefficacy and corruption within the ideological regime have led the country toward destruction in various dimensions.