TEHRAN — Some had started praying for rain. The mountains towering over the city were bare and brown, deprived of their usual winter dusting of snow. A full-blown water crisis is drying out Iran, much to the concern of officials who fear protests and strife if conditions do not improve. “We ask God’s forgiveness for our sins through rain prayers and entreat him to send us his blessing.”But then prayers — and hopes, for the many in Tehran who are not religious — were answered. A blizzard that started Saturday evening descended on Iran, blanketing large parts of the country and taking everyone by surprise.

Source: New York Times January 28, 2018 15:33 UTC