Occurs

Comments / Details

Yes

Iran is susceptible to drought primarily due to its geographical location and topography, characterized by arid and semiarid climates with significant desert expanses. The presence of mountain ranges, such as the Zagros and Alborz Mountains, obstructs moist air masses, leading to low precipitation levels in central and eastern regions. The country's diverse climates include arid, semiarid, and cold desert types, with the central plateau experiencing extremes in temperature. Iran faces water resource challenges exacerbated by population growth, agricultural demands, and overexploitation, contributing to groundwater depletion and heightened drought risks.

Yes

In the UNDP's report on reducing disaster risk, Iran is ranked number one in the list of countries with the largest average number of earthquakes per year with a magnitude equal to or greater than 5.5 on the Richter scale. It is also ranked one of the highest in terms of relative vulnerability and also in terms of the number of people killed per year as a result of earthquakes. The seismicity of Iran and its general vulnerability to earthquakes have been graphically and catastrophically illustrated by the Bam earthquake in December 2003, in which thousands of people were killed, and in the May 2004 earthquake in the Alborz Mountains, an event that magnitude equal to or greater than 5.5 on the Richter shook Tehran and produced 155 aftershocks in three days. The particular geological setting of Iran means that it is particularly prone to shallow (<10 km deep) earthquakes. In recent years, there have been some major earthquakes hit the north-west of Iran (Azerbaijan province) and south-east (Sistan & Baluchistan province). An earthquake registered 7.8 on the Richter scale occurred in Sistan & Baluchistan province in south-eastern Iran in April 2013. In November 2017, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 occurred on the Iran-Iraq border which had 600 casualties on the Iran and Iraq side.

In January 2023, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 struck hit the city of Khoy in West Azerbaijan province. Approximately 70 villages were reported to have damage. The affected area witnessed damage to buildings and infrastructure, along with power outages in certain neighborhoods.

Yes

Iran was one of the first countries that face the COVID-19 epidemic. As of 28 February 2022, Iran has reported more than 6.6 million cases and approximately 140,000 deaths.

Yes

Iran is renowned for its diverse climate, and various regions experience extreme temperatures during the summer season (25 June–25 August). One notable area with extremely high temperatures is the Lut Desert, also known as Dasht-e Lut. Located in south-eastern Iran, the Lut Desert has recorded some of the highest ground temperatures on Earth. In 2005, NASA's Aqua satellite recorded surface temperatures in the Lut Desert as high as 70.7 degrees Celsius.

Furthermore, several southern parts of Iran, including cities like Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, and Abadan, are characterized by extremely high temperatures during the summer months. These areas, located along the Persian Gulf, experience scorching weather influenced by the warm waters of the Gulf, leading to hot and humid conditions. The city of Bandar Abbas, located in the province of Hormozgan, and Bushehr, along with Abadan in the Khuzestan Province, are known for their challenging climates, making summers particularly intense in terms of heat.

Yes

Torrential rain and storms cause floods in most parts of Iran each year. It mostly causes severe damage to the villages, access roads, infrastructures of cities, agricultural lands & farms. The last flash flood occurred in Kerman province and affected the major cities of the province and caused damage to the villages. More than 2000 people relocated and most of the infrastructures were fully damaged.

Heavy rains and flash flooding that began in March 2019 have affected 23 of 31 provinces across Iran. The flooding has killed 70 people and injured 613 people according to the authorities. It is estimated that 12.5 million people have been affected. Initial information indicates that 170,000 people in two provinces have been displaced. While information regarding humanitarian needs is still limited, the most affected sectors are reportedly in water, sanitation and hygiene, health, shelter, and agriculture.

Flash floods and mudslides triggered by heavy rains in July 2022 have led to deaths and injuries in Imamzadeh Davood, a shrine in north-western Tehran.

The ongoing rainfall since mid-July has caused widespread floods and landslides across 26 provinces, resulting in at least 95 deaths, 200 missing, and numerous injuries.  The Iranian Red Crescent Society has assisted over 78,000 affected individuals, transported 3,562 to safety, and provided emergency shelter to more than 11,212 people. Floodwaters have impacted 1,428 villages, disrupted 162 transportation routes, and destroyed over 20,000 homes.

Yes

Each year Iran faces Lucas invasion to the provinces in south of Iran. Between 400 to 600 thousand hectares of Iran lands gets affected by the Lucas attack.

Yes

Wildfires in several natural habitats of Iran each year destroys thousands of hectares of Iran jungles. From 2011 to 2018 near 125,000 hectares of Iran jungles are destroyed by fire.

Furthermore, during 2011 to 2021, more than 22,100 incidents of wildfires occurred in the country's forests and grasslands. Many of the wildfires in the country's forest areas have occurred accidentally and due to human negligence.

Yes

Every year, During Spring (Feb – end of April) there are seasonal high winds in south-eastern parts of Iran especially Sistan - Balouchistan province near to the Pakistan border and southern parts of Kerman. 

 Yes

From 2018 to 2021, follow to deteriorating of economic condition, several protests happened against the expensive living costs and unfair payment conditions. Most of the protests were peaceful but in several cases, it also turned to civil unrest.

In September 2022, protests erupted in Iran after the death of a girl called  Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for violating the hijab law.  Demands for increased women's rights drove the unrest for several months.
 

Yes

After the exit of the US from JCPOA in May 2018, the international relations of Iran with Western countries deteriorated and in 2019 and 2020 resulted in several conflicts between Iran and US.
In 2021 after the US presidential election, Iran and JCPOA members started a new session of negotiations for the revival of JCPOA.

The deadly bombing in Kerman City, targeting a commemorative ceremony for Qasem Soleimani, occurred on January 3, 2024, marking the fourth anniversary of Soleimani's death. The attack, claimed by the Islamic State group (IS), resulted in some fatalities and numerous injuries.

Following the terrorist attacks of Kerman in 2024, Iran launched missile strikes on neighboring Pakistan and Iraq, drawing condemnations from both countries and heightening concerns of escalating tensions in the Middle East

On January 18, 2024, Pakistan conducted military strikes inside Iran, targeting Baloch militants in the city of Saravan. The strikes resulted in Iranian officials reporting the deaths of nine foreign nationals, including women and children. The following day, Pakistan's caretaker prime minister, Anwaar ul Haq Kakar, announced the restoration of normal diplomatic relations with Iran.

Yes

Iran faces severe challenges related to water resources, including rising demand, salinization, groundwater overexploitation, and increased drought frequency. The ongoing drought has placed 2 to 20 million people at high to medium risk of drought-related impacts. In recent years and lack of water in the villages has resulted in lots of families leaving villages and moving to main cities. It is expected that in the next 30 years, lots of people will leave the south and southeast of Iran due to drought.  

Yes

Iran hosts one of the largest refugee populations in the world, the majority of whom come from Afghanistan. Around 780,000 registered Afghan refugees and another 2.6 million who are either undocumented or have received a headcount laissez-passer live in Iran. 96% of Afghan refugees live in urban areas, while the other 4% live in approximately 20 refugee settlements across the country. Among all Afghans in Iran, 500,000–1,000,000 arrived in the country after the Taliban takeover in August 2021.

In recent years, the Iranian Government has slowly introduced policies to increase the provision and renewal of Amayesh cards. Amayesh cards grant registered refugees conditional freedom of movement, temporary work permits, and access to the national education and healthcare systems. Primary healthcare is available for free for both refugees and undocumented people. Amayesh cardholders can also access Iran’s Universal Public Health Insurance Scheme. All children in Iran have access to primary and secondary education regardless of their status.

In April 2022, the Iranian Ministry of Interior conducted a headcount of all undocumented Afghan nationals in Iran. The provision of headcount laissez-passers was initially valid until 22 October 2022 but has been extended until 20 April 2023

Yes

In areas near the border of Iran-Iraq. There are landmines remaining from the 1980s during the Iran/Iraq war. 

Most of Iran’s estimated 16 million landmines lie in the Iranian provinces bordering Iraq – Ilam, Kermanshah, Khuzestan, Kurdistan, and West Azerbaijan.

Time Frame

Comments / Details

November to February 

The mountainous regions in the northern and western parts of the country are affected by snowfalls. This increases the risk of accidents and slows down traffic. During that season the vehicles are equipped with chains, which are used if and when necessary. The road maintenance services are equipped with snowploughs. 

November to February

Roads leading to Afghan & Iraqi refugee camps are affected by snowfalls. Tehran-Qazvin-Zanjan-Tabriz highway (the main route to the west-northwest of Iran) is mostly covered by snow during the wintertime. Furthermore, the side roads, destined for the refugee settlements in the west of Iran (Uromiyeh-Kermanshah/Zanjan-Sardasht), are also affected by the cold weather of winter

May to August

Lack of wagons due to less importation of cotton from CIS countries to Iran. During Sep to April more wagons are available. Also, during the Iranian New Year (March) there might be wagon congestion or less availability of wagons. Priority is being given to passengers rather than cargo.

25 Sep to end of October (Hadj period)

The whole year for Najaf

Tehran has two main airports, Mehrabad and Imam Khomeini (IKA). Mehrabad is located inside Tehran and is used for domestic flights and Hadj. IKA is used for international flights. During Hadj time there is congestion in Mehrabad Airport and recently in IKA (Imam Khomeini Airport) for airlines to Najaf. 

N/A

Time Frame

Comments / Details

No effects

No effects