July 2, 2018
Iranian general says Israel stealing Iran's clouds. The head of Iran's Civil Defense Organization claims Israel is 'working to ensure clouds entering Iranian skies are unable to release rain,' insisting this was confirmed by an Iranian scientific study; but head of Iran's meteorological service says 'it is not possible for a country to steal clouds.'
An Iranian general on Monday accused Israel of manipulating weather to prevent rain over the Islamic republic, alleging his country was facing cloud "theft," before being contradicted by the nation's weather chief.
"The changing climate in Iran is suspect," Brigadier General Gholam Reza Jalali, head of Iran's Civil Defense Organization told a press conference, semi-official ISNA news agency reported.
"Foreign interference is suspected to have played a role in climate change," Jalali was quoted as saying, insisting results from an Iranian scientific study "confirm" the claim.
"Israel and another country in the region have joint teams which work to ensure clouds entering Iranian skies are unable to release rain," he said.
"On top of that, we are facing the issue of cloud and snow theft", Jalali added, citing a survey showing that above 2,200 metres all mountainous areas between Afghanistan and the Mediterranean are covered in snow, except Iran.
Iran's own meteorological service struck a skeptical note, however.
General Jalali "probably has documents of which I am not aware, but on the basis of meteorological knowledge, it is not possible for a country to steal snow or clouds," said the head of Iran's meteorological service Ahad Vazife, quoted by ISNA.