Heavy rains after months of extreme drought have triggered flooding in western and southern Iran, affecting the provinces of Ilam and Khuzestan. The cities of Abdanan, Dehloran, Shushtar, and Masjid al-Sulaiman were among the hardest hit.
Officials in Ilam said around 40 homes in Abdanan’s Hazarani district were flooded and nearly 90 families were displaced. Crisis teams have been deployed as Iran experiences one of its driest periods in 60 years.
Experts warn that prolonged drought has reduced soil absorption, causing rainfall to turn rapidly into destructive runoff. With dam levels at critically low levels and 19 provinces seeing rainfall decreases of up to 100 percent, President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that Tehran may face mandatory water restrictions, and even evacuation, if November and December remain dry.