Iran begins cloud seeding to battle historic drought

• Iranian authorities initiated cloud seeding operations over the weekend, starting in the Lake Urmia basin, amid one of the country's worst droughts in decades.
• The current autumn is cited as the driest in 50 years, with this year's precipitation being 89% below the long-term average, severely draining dams and reservoirs.

Iranian authorities began cloud seeding operations over the weekend in an effort to combat one of the country's most severe droughts in decades, state media reported.

The official IRNA news agency reported late Saturday: "A cloud seeding operation was carried out today in the Lake Urmia basin for the first time in the hydrological year," which begins in September.

Focus on Major Reservoirs

The water level of Lake Urmia, the largest lake in Iran, located in the mountainous northwest, has been receding since 1995 due to persistent drought. IRNA noted that subsequent operations will be carried out in the provinces of East and West Azerbaijan.

Cloud seeding is a technique to induce precipitation by injecting clouds with chemical agents, such as silver iodide.

Tehran announced last year that it had developed its own technology in this field, a measure also employed by other nations in the region, notably the United Arab Emirates.

Driest Autumn in 50 Years

Iran has been suffering from years of drought and successive heatwaves, conditions expected to worsen due to climate change.

IRNA reported that the country is currently experiencing the "driest autumn in 50 years," citing the national meteorological organization that this year's precipitation is 89% below the long-term average.

Water levels in the dams supplying many provinces have dropped to their lowest historical levels.

Local authorities reported that precipitation in the capital, Tehran, is at its lowest level in a century, with half of the country's provinces having not seen a drop of rain in months.

Earlier in November, President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that Tehran residents might need to be evacuated due to water shortages if rain did not fall before the end of the year.

The government later clarified that the statement was intended to highlight the severity of the situation, not to announce an immediate evacuation plan.

Rainfall Hits Several Regions

Despite the alarming drought figures, state media reported scattered rainfall across several western and northwestern regions on Saturday.

Local media broadcast videos showing heavy rain in Ahvaz and Shushtar (southwest), as well as in Salmas and Urmia (northwest), with heavy rains causing flash floods in some areas.

Iranian media also shared visuals of the first snowfall of the season in Alborz province and the Tochal ski resort north of Tehran.