Iran begins cloud seeding operations as severe drought bites

Iran is actively employing cloud seeding technology via aircraft to alleviate its worsening drought crisis. The operations involve dispersing particles like silver iodide and salt into clouds to stimulate precipitation. Initial efforts focused on the Urmia Lake basin, a region severely impacted by drought, with plans to extend the operations to East and West Azerbaijan provinces. These measures come as Iran experiences its driest autumn in half a century, with rainfall significantly below the long-term average.

The cloud seeding program is part of a broader strategy to address chronic water scarcity in the arid nation. Iran developed its own cloud seeding technology last year, highlighting the importance of this approach to the country's water management efforts. The recent cloud seeding operations coincided with reports of rainfall in several western and northwestern provinces, although the direct correlation remains unconfirmed.

Water levels in reservoirs supplying many provinces have reached record lows, underscoring the urgency of the situation. The Iranian government faces increasing pressure to find solutions to the water crisis, which threatens various sectors, including agriculture and public health. Other countries in the region, such as the United Arab Emirates, have also adopted cloud seeding as a method to artificially enhance rainfall, demonstrating a regional trend in addressing water scarcity through technological interventions.