WANA (Nov 14) – Tehran is facing one of its driest years in decades, as water levels in major dams continue to fall sharply due to poor rainfall and rising consumption. Several neighborhoods have already reported low water pressure and occasional supply disruptions, prompting officials to call for conservation as the drought deepens.

 

Against this backdrop, a traditional rain-prayer ceremony (Namaz-e Baran) took place today, in the heart of Tehran, Tajrish.

 

Considering this is the modern world, it has been ages since this kind of prayer was brought up or talked about; therefore, the timing of the ceremony shows both the severity of the current drought and the social and cultural responses it has triggered, as communities turn to spiritual practices alongside technical and governmental efforts to address the shortage!

 

People pray for rain following a drought crisis at Imamzadeh Saleh shrine in Tehran, Iran, November 14, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

 

Hundreds of worshippers gathered in the shrine’s courtyard, standing shoulder to shoulder as they lifted their hands toward the sky. Many were visibly emotional: some cried quietly, while others read supplications aloud, asking for divine mercy.

 

Historically, these prayers were more common in rural regions or during periods when communities relied heavily on agriculture. In large cities like Tehran, however, they are extremely rare today, which is why the ceremony at Imamzadeh Saleh stands out. Many residents said they had never witnessed such a gathering before.

 

One of the prayer’s participants, Ms. Mashreghi, told our WANA reporters who were at the scene of the prayers that this was her first time attending a rain prayer. “There was drought before, but I don’t remember it being to this extent … this was the first rain prayer I ever prayed,” she said.

 

“We are here to ask God to grant us His grace and mercy and to help us overcome these difficult circumstances,” said Maryam Ojaghi, another one of the women attending the ceremony. Reflecting on the drought, she added, “At my age, I have not had such an experience… I think it has been unprecedented in at least the last 40 or 50 years.”

 

A small amount of water pours out of the faucet following a drought crisis in Tehran, Iran, November 14, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

 

Outside the shrine, everyday scenes reflected how strongly water has become part of public consciousness. People filled bottles and buckets from public faucets, and many spoke about the challenges ahead.

 

  Mr Mir-Hossein Sadat, a Tehran resident, spoke to WANA about how the situation had not yet reached a drinking-water crisis but warned of strain. “It may put pressure on people, but I don’t think we will face a shortage of drinking water… It’s more about cleaning water and dealing with these issues,” he said.

 

Sadat also emphasised that the burden should not fall solely on households. “Iranians are not heavy consumers in this matter… We have practiced saving water for years. There should be a review of government issues—agriculture, industry. This is not something that depends on the people,” he said.

 

Children play in Tajrish Bazaar in Tehran, Iran, November 14, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

 

For some residents, the situation is beyond anything they have seen. “I’ve never seen the dams this empty, and especially no rainfall in the fall—it’s a catastrophic situation,” said Mobina Hasani-Nezhad to WANA reporters who were asking residents about their opinion on the water crisis in Tehran. She believes a stronger response is needed: “They must manage it—tell people to save, invest in desalination, build pipelines from the seas, or even reduce the population of cities like Tehran that are facing shortages. Some real management is necessary.”

 

As the drought persists, today’s prayer highlighted both the immediate anxiety felt across the city and the cultural instinct to turn to spiritual traditions during hardship—standing alongside the technical and governmental measures being discussed to ease Iran’s growing water crisis.