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By Amir Daftari
News Reporter
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Iran is facing one of its most severe droughts in decades, prompting authorities to accelerate cloud-seeding operations and implement water rationing in Tehran and other major cities. Officials warn that without substantial rainfall before winter, parts of the capital could require partial evacuation.
The emergency comes as Iran’s National Weather Forecasting Center reports that nationwide rainfall has fallen roughly 89 percent below long-term averages, marking the driest autumn in 50 years.
Newsweek has contacted Iran's Foreign Ministry for comment.
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Why It Matters
Iran’s water shortages are reaching historic levels, straining infrastructure, agriculture, and major population centers simultaneously. Prolonged drought, intensifying climate conditions and years of water mismanagement have brought reservoirs to the brink of depletion. Tehran, home to more than 15 million people, is now among the world’s largest cities at risk of severe water cuts, placing households, industries and essential services under mounting pressure.
The crisis also carries wider national implications. Water scarcity threatens food production, job stability, public health and internal cohesion. As shortages worsen, they could reshape economic planning, domestic priorities and Iran’s broader position in a region already marked by volatility.
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What To Know
State media reported that Iran conducted its first cloud-seeding flight of the current water year on Saturday over the Urmia Lake basin in the northwest, with further operations planned for East and West Azerbaijan provinces. The efforts come as officials seek to mitigate one of the most severe droughts in decades, targeting areas where moisture remains in the atmosphere.
The urgency is underscored by the dramatic decline of Lake Urmia, once the Middle East’s largest saltwater lake. Years of drought and mismanagement have reduced it to a vast salt plain, a stark symbol of Iran’s long-term water challenges and the growing strain on the country’s natural resources.
How Does Cloud Seeding Work?
Cloud seeding aims to boost rainfall by dispersing particles such as silver iodide, sodium chloride, or potassium chloride into clouds. These particles provide a nucleus for water droplets to form and grow until they fall as precipitation. While the process cannot create clouds, it can enhance rainfall in existing moisture-laden clouds, making it a common tool in regions coping with drought or chronic water shortages.
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Tehran Facing Crisis Despite Recent Precipitation
Over the weekend, local outlets aired footage of heavy rain and isolated flooding in parts of western and northwestern Iran. Yet Iran's National Weather Forecasting Center notes that overall rainfall remains roughly 89 percent below long-term averages, leaving much of the country parched. Snowfall recently appeared on Tochal mountain near Tehran but provided little relief for the capital’s reservoirs.
Tehran could see cloud-seeding as soon as Monday if meteorologists identify suitable clouds. The head of Iran's Organization for Development and Use of Meteoric Water Technologies said officials will "try to carry out this operation on all suitable [rain] systems." The city faces severe water scarcity: half Iran’s provinces have gone months without measurable rainfall, and the Amir Kabir Dam, one of five reservoirs supplying the capital, holds just 14 million cubic meters of water, down from 86 million last year. With daily consumption near three million cubic meters, officials warn supplies could run out within weeks without meaningful precipitation.
Rationing Plans Across Major Cities
To stretch dwindling resources, authorities plan rolling water cuts in Tehran and are reviewing similar measures in Isfahan, Tabriz, and Mashhad. Conservation campaigns are also underway to slow consumption and prioritize essential services, as officials brace for what could be a prolonged period of severe drought.
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What People Are Saying
Mohammad Mehdi Javadian-Zadeh, head of the Organization for Development and Use of Meteoric Water Technologies said on Sunday: "We will try to carry out this operation on all suitable [rain] systems entering the country that are ripe for cloud-seeding,"
Negar Mortazavi, senior fellow at the Center for International Policy and host of The Iran Podcast, told Newsweek: "Domestic problems like a weakening economy, social and political pressure and environmental problems like water shortages are the root cause of mass protest that erupt time and again, and have created a legitimacy crisis for the state."
What Happens Next
With reservoirs shrinking and industries under mounting strain, Iran’s drought is increasingly seen as a national turning point. Lawmakers and local leaders are pressing the government for urgent action, while public frustration over water shortages adds mounting political pressure on Tehran’s administration. Without major reforms to water management and consumption systems, the country risks a prolonged crisis with sweeping domestic and regional consequences.
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