As Iran faces fears of having to evacuate Tehran due to extreme drought, the country’s western regions are now experiencing flooding triggered by heavy rainfall.
According to the British news agency Reuters, months of drought had created the worst water crisis in decades, forcing authorities to begin “cloud seeding” operations over the weekend.
On Monday, the national meteorological agency issued flood warnings for six western provinces and said it expects rainfall in 18 of Iran’s 31 provinces.
Overall, Iran’s rainfall levels are 85% below average, causing reservoirs to dry up and water supply to be cut in several areas — including parts of the capital, Tehran.
Mismanagement, illegal well-drilling, and inefficient agricultural practices have compounded the crisis, which officials say has also been worsened by climate change.
Long and severe dry spells increase the risk of flash floods, as drought reduces the soil’s capacity to absorb water.
Iranian media shared videos of light flooding in cities across western provinces such as Ilam and Kurdistan.
The Young Journalists Club (YJC) reported that on Saturday, Iran carried out this year’s first cloud-seeding operation — artificial rain-inducing activity, over the catchment area of Lake Urmia in northwestern Iran, located even farther north than the regions now reporting flooding.
Cloud seeding involves injecting chemicals into clouds to increase precipitation, particularly in regions facing acute water shortages.
However, the technique can only be used when atmospheric conditions are suitable, and it serves as only a temporary solution.
Sahar Tajbakhsh, head of Iran’s Meteorological Organization, told state TV on Sunday that aside from its high cost, the amount of rainfall produced through cloud seeding is nowhere near sufficient to address the country’s water crisis.
YJC further reported that atmospheric conditions required for cloud seeding have not yet developed over Tehran — a city officials warn could soon become uninhabitable if the ongoing drought continues.
