Iran's water crisis puts the regime under pressure

"It's nothing but a salt desert now," laments Amir*, scrolling through photos on his phone. Ten years ago, this native of Tabriz in northwestern Iran began photographing Lake Urmia, an hour's drive from his hometown. Once known as the sixth largest saltwater lake on the planet, today it is in places just a vast white, cracked expanse.The "pearl of Iran" has lost more than 95 percent of its water volume in a decade. "An immense, staggering loss," mourns the 38-year-old taxi driver. The lake's gradual disappearance has become emblematic of Iran's recurring drought problem, awakening public consciousness. This year is particularly dire, with Iran facing its worst drought in 60 years.After a summer of record heatwaves, official data, which begins measuring precipitation each year on Sept. 23,...