Gholamreza Jalali, the head of Iran's Passive Defense Organization, claimed on Tuesday, July 2, that according to the results of a "scientific study," climate changes in Iran are "suspected of foreign interference." He emphasized that "joint teams from Israel and one neighboring country are making clouds entering Iran non-precipitating." According to ISNA news agency, Mr. Jalali also mentioned without naming specific countries that some nations are engaging in "cloud theft and snow theft" from Iran. This military official claimed that over the past four years, all elevations above 2,200 meters from Afghanistan to the Mediterranean have been "full of snow," while Iran's elevations have been "dry." Mr. Jalali did not provide details about the names of these "scientific centers" and the results of this "study." His remarks received significant attention on social media, and shortly after, Ahmad Vazifeh, the director of the forecasting organization, stated in an interview with ILNA news agency that "cloud theft and snow theft" by other countries is not possible. He emphasized that countries like Iraq, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Central Asia are also experiencing drought, and this phenomenon is not limited to Iran. Mr. Vazifeh also mentioned that there is currently no technology capable of altering the atmosphere. Farid Golkar, head of the cloud seeding center, had previously called reports about "cloud theft" a rumor in an interview with Hamshahri newspaper in 2018. He also stated that in 2018, cloud seeding was not conducted due to a lack of budget. Meanwhile, Davood Parhizgar, head of the meteorological organization, mentioned last year that cloud seeding does not solve the country's water crisis and may even reduce the natural amount of rainfall if done incorrectly. Cloud seeding is one of the Ministry of Energy's programs to increase rainfall in Iran. The National Center for Cloud Seeding Research and Studies in Iran was established in 1996. In other countries, methods such as using ground equipment, airborne equipment, and aircraft to release seeding materials on clouds are employed, while in Iran, aircraft are used for this purpose.
Head of Passive Defense Organization: Iran is being robbed of clouds and snow
Gholamreza Jalali, head of Iran's Passive Defense Organization, accused foreign entities, particularly Israel, of manipulating weather patterns to deprive Iran of precipitation. This claim has sparked significant debate, with Iranian meteorological officials refuting the possibility of such interference, highlighting the broader regional issue of drought.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Gholamreza Jalali accused foreign entities, particularly Israel, of manipulating weather patterns to deprive Iran of precipitation. This claim has been met with significant skepticism from Iranian meteorological officials.
- Jalali's claims suggest a belief in foreign interference in Iran's climate issues.
- Meteorological officials have stated that drought is a regional problem, not caused by foreign manipulation.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran is experiencing significant droughts, which have raised concerns about water security and agricultural sustainability. The concept of 'cloud theft' reflects broader anxieties about foreign interference in domestic issues.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%