Tehran, Iran: Thousands of residents gathered in a mosque in northern Tehran to pray for rain amid the worst drought in decades. Officials report this year’s rainfall in the capital is the lowest in a century. Half of Iran’s provinces have gone months without a single drop of rain.
The government has announced intermittent water cuts for Tehran’s 10 million residents to conserve supplies. Normally, autumn rains and winter snowfall on the southern slopes of the Alborz Mountains replenish the city’s water reservoirs. This year, the mountain peaks remain unusually dry, worsening the water shortage.
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On Friday, men and women gathered separately inside Imamzadeh Saleh mosque, following Islamic tradition, for a special prayer for rainfall. Residents have expressed concern about daily water usage, which currently reaches 30 million cubic meters in Tehran. Officials warn that five major dams supplying the city are critically low, with one completely empty and another below 8% capacity.
President Masoud Pezeshkian recently warned that if rain does not fall before winter, Tehran may face evacuation. Authorities later clarified that the warning was meant to inform residents of the severity, not announce a concrete plan. Citizens are now bracing for stricter water rationing in the coming months.
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Experts say the prolonged drought is the result of decades of climate change, overuse of water resources, and unusually hot, dry summers. Meanwhile, local communities continue traditional prayers, hoping for relief, while the government searches for sustainable solutions to secure Tehran’s water supply.