Amid criticism over the Iranian regime's environmental mismanagement, the head of the Department of Environment claims that Iran's drought might be the result of enemy actions.

Ali Salajegheh stated Wednesday "It is not unlikely that Iran's drought on a small scale is the result of hostile actions, but research in this area has not yet been conducted," a typical charge made by the government on matters for which it has no justifications.

Recent years have seen a number of Iranian environmentalists convicted of espionage for the US and UK governments and sentenced to prison.

The latest claim comes four months after Iranians protested in Tabriz against the mismanagement that led to the disappearance of Lake Urmia. The lake, once the largest in the Middle East, has significantly shrunk over the years due to water mismanagement and climate change.

Reports indicate that a quarter of Iran's farmers have lost their jobs in the past seven years, mainly due to water scarcity. Droughts and water shortages have also led to soil erosion, desertification, and hazardous dust storms affecting approximately half of Iran's population, according to the country's health ministry.

In recent years, scientists and activists have criticized the Iranian regime for its mismanagement of the country's environment, particularly concerning water resources.