Iran to launch world’s first real-time dust hotspot monitoring app, decision-support system

Iran will soon launch the world’s first real-time application for monitoring dust storm hotspots and a decision-support system to help authorities respond more effectively to dust events, a senior environmental official said.

Speaking on Sunday to mark the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms, Behnam Rayegani, secretary of Iran’s National Headquarters for Dust Storm Policy and Coordination, said the country’s first decision-support system for dust storm management will become operational in the southwestern province of Khuzestan within the next month.

“The first decision-support system for managing dust storm conditions in Khuzestan will be launched in less than a month,” Rayegani said, adding that the platform will enable responsible agencies to make faster and more effective decisions during dust events.

He said the system is part of Iran’s newly adopted comprehensive national strategy for dust storm management, which shifts the focus from merely preventing dust storms to mitigating their impacts and improving preparedness.

Rayegani also announced the development of what he said is the world’s first application for real-time monitoring of dust storm hotspots.

“This application, designed for the first time in the world, enables the continuous monitoring of dust storm hotspots anywhere across the globe,” he said.

According to the official, dust storm source areas have traditionally been mapped only once every few years. The new platform, however, will provide continuous seasonal and monthly monitoring, allowing systematic reporting and more accurate tracking of changes over time.

He said the initiative is intended to strengthen early warning capabilities and support more effective management of dust storms, which continue to affect large parts of Iran and the wider region.

Climate apocalypse? Wave of dust storms puts West Asia on edge

Since April this year, air pollution levels in Tehran have seen a sharp spike with a thick blanket of noxious smog engulfing the capital city at irregular intervals.

The official added that the national strategy also places greater emphasis on reducing the health impacts of dust storms by improving the preparedness of healthcare facilities, expanding public awareness campaigns, and strengthening community resilience, particularly in vulnerable regions.

Rayegani said Iran is also pursuing international cooperation to tackle the growing challenge.

A global biodiversity-focused project to combat dust storms is expected to be officially launched within the next one or two months, while another initiative funded by the Japanese government will pilot indigenous sand-control techniques in the southeastern Sistan region, he explained.

According to Rayegani, Iran is home to more than 10 million hectares of critically degraded dust storm hotspots, underscoring the scale of the environmental challenge.

To support mitigation efforts, the government has allocated a dedicated budget of 600 billion tomans (approximately $3.5 million) for the Iranian calendar year 1405 (March 2026- March 2027), an independent funding package specifically designated to combat the dust crisis.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir