As part of ongoing programs to enhance precipitation in susceptible regions across the country, the IRGC Aerospace Force has successfully carried out eight specialized cloud-seeding flight sorties over the past 48 hours. According to technical and flight teams, these operations were completed with full coordination and achieved favorable outcomes.

According to received information, today (December 10, 2025), three cloud-seeding sorties were conducted, mainly targeting the Lake Urmia basin. Two of these sorties took place over Urmia to maximize the use of suitable cold clouds and strengthen precipitation in this environmentally sensitive water basin. Simultaneously, another sortie covered the provinces of Tehran, Alborz, Zanjan, and Qazvin to leverage existing atmospheric opportunities across central and northern Iran for boosting rainfall. Additionally, within these eight sorties, cloud-seeding operations were conducted over Yazd Province, extending precipitation-enhancement efforts to central and desert regions of the country.

Operational officials stated that these flights were carried out following precise weather forecasting and real-time identification of suitable clouds. In this regard, Seyed Hamed Tabatabaei, engineer and head of the cold-cloud cloud-seeding team, had previously explained that the forecasting unit typically identifies priority regions one to two days before the flight, after which the operations team goes on alert.

He added that flight guidance and timing of flare releases are executed moment-by-moment based on in-cloud sensor data, with the mission leader maintaining direct communication with the pilot to determine the route, altitude, and the optimal timing for initiating and continuing the seeding process.

A key highlight of the recent operations, aside from their wide geographic coverage, is their technical complexity and skill-dependent nature. Experts explain that cloud-seeding missions involving cold clouds—unlike typical flights conducted above cloud level—require entering and navigating within the clouds themselves. This demands exceptional piloting skills, full command of aircraft handling in low-visibility conditions, and real-time decision-making inside the cloud environment. As such, the IRGC Aerospace Force’s aviation capabilities and pilot proficiency are seen as crucial factors behind the success of the recent sorties.

Climate and water-resource experts emphasize that cold-cloud cloud seeding, when executed at the right time and place and with high operational accuracy, can serve as an effective complementary tool in water-resource management—especially in basins like Lake Urmia, where any increase in precipitation can contribute to ecological restoration and long-term sustainability.

According to operational sources, final results of these eight sorties will be summarized and announced after rainfall data is recorded, monitored, and compared with predictive models.

Source: Tasnim