Environment

Lake Urmia witnesses significant water surge, but challenges persist

In a positive turn of events, the water input to Lake Urmia, in northwestern Iran, has tripled, with the lake's level reaching 1270.2 meters and its volume surpassing 1.4 billion cubic meters.

Persian leopard spotted in Iran’s Qazvin province

Iran’s environmental guards have spotted an Iranian leopard while patrolling the protected areas of Alamut in Qazvin province, west of the capital Tehran.

Warm winter in Iran raises concerns over continued drought

2023 was the hottest year on the record on the earth, a major source of concern that drought will pose serious threats in water stressed countries like Iran.

Iran releases water into shrinking Lake Urmia

The governor of the northwestern Iranian province of West Azarbaijan said on Tuesday that water has been released into receding Lake Urmia two months earlier than the previous years.

Battling extremes: Aid workers prepare for weather whiplash in 10 Iranian provinces

Aid workers are on high alert across 10 provinces in Iran as the Head of the Red Crescent Relief and Rescue Organization issues a weather warning.

Iran Health Ministry: Tehran 19th most polluted capital in world

Tehran has been ranked ‘19th most polluted’ among the capitals in the world in terms of the concentration of suspended particles, responsible for nearly 14 percent of the deaths in the country, according to the Iranian Ministry of Health.

Environment body: Afghanistan construction of dam dries Hamun Wetland in Iran

The construction of Kamal Khan Dam by Afghanistan has caused the Hamun Wetladn on the border with Iran in the province of Sistan and Baluchestan, to dry.

Iranian city of Sarakhs hit by dust storm, schools shuttered

Sand and dust storms continue to plague the northeastern Iranian city of Sarakhs which have closed the schools and disrupted railway transit.

Iran dismisses reported extraction of lithium from shrinking Lake Urmia

An Iranian official has categorically rejected reports suggesting that Lake Urmia has been purposefully neglected to let the body of water dry up and allow for mining of much-coveted lithium.

Severe smog levels in Iranian capital claim nearly 6,400 lives in one year

Around 6,400 people have died due to extremely high levels of air pollution in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

Illicit market for wild birds in north Iran shuttered

The market for illegal trade in wild birds in the northern Iranian city of Fereydunkenar has been closed down after years of concern by environment lovers.

Entangled leopard returns to habitat after rescue operation near Tehran 

A wildlife rescue team has saved a leopard entangled in a barbed wire fence of a garden in the city of Firouzkouh, northeast of the capital Tehran. 

Autumn in Hyrkanian Forests, northern Iran

The forests of northern Iran are among the most beautiful ones in the world, where there are more than 80 species of trees and shrubs.

Taliban say living up to watershare treaty with Iran if there is rain

A spokesman for the Taliban has claimed Afghanistan is grappling with a drought and that all Afghans are facing water shortages, making Iran’s right to the Hirmand River water conditional on the existence of water.

Tehran air quality ‘unhealthy, dangerous for sensitive groups’

The air quality index in the Iranian capital, Tehran, stood at 134 on Sunday, like in previous days, falling into the Orange Category, that is dangerous for sensitive groups, on the national color-coded classification system.

Air pollution sequel back in Tehran, schools shuttered

Once again it’s winter time and once again the Iranian capital Tehran, and several other cities, are hit with high levels of air pollution, described as unhealthy for sensitive groups, which has led to the closure of schools.

Five cheetahs spotted in protected park in central Iran 

Five Asiatic cheetahs have been spotted in a protected area in the Iranian central province of Semnan, an official said. 

Iran says receiving no water supply from Afghan side of Hirmand River

The supply of water from the Hirmand River in Afghanistan to Iran has been completely cut off for a month, Iran’s Water Sector spokesman says.

Iranian experts contain oil pollution off Ganaveh Port along Persian Gulf

The CEO of Iran Oil Terminals Company says thanks to efforts by domestic experts, the repairing of the oil pipeline from Ganaveh coast, along the Persian Gulf, that faced some problems due to an oil leak has been successfully completed.

Wars imposed by extraregional powers source of dust storms in West Asia: Iran

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has stated one of the main reasons behind sand and dust storms in West Asia is the wars imposed on the region by extraregional powers.

Iran president urges forming joint fund to finance environmental measures, tackle dust storms

The Iranian president has called for the establishment of a joint international fund to tackle dust particulates.

Iran seeking joint action with Saudi Arabia on sand storms

Iran mulls a joint action with Saudi Arabia to contain the sand and dust storms that emanate from the Arab country’s Empty Quarter desert, according to head of the Iranian Department of Environment.

Premature fall in summer in Isfahan

Climatic changes, drought, temperature stress and lack of water flow in the landmark Zayandehroud River have led to chlorosis, or yellowing of normally green leaves, and premature fall of plantain trees in recent years in Isfahan.

Iran cleaning up oil spill in Genaveh, Persian Gulf

Work is under way to clean up two large stretches of oil patches off the southern Iranian port city of Genaveh in  the Persuan Gulf, head of Iran’s Environment Protection Organization said.

Iranian environmental chief denies claim Lake Urmia on cusp of death

Head of Iranian Environment Protection Organization says Lake Urmia in Iran’s West Azerbaijan Province, is not on the verge of dying.

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