TEHRAM – An official of the Iranian Army has raised eyebrows by accusingthe country’s arch rival Israel of “stealing” its clouds.

The senior military officer announced that the changing weather pattern inthe country is because Israel is preventing clouds from entering Iran andreleasing rain therein.

Yes, you read it right. This is not an extract from a science fiction.

On Monday, addressing a press conference Brigadier General Gholam RezaJalali, head of Iran’s Civil Defense Organisation, said the changingweather pattern in the country is “suspect”.

“Foreign interference is suspected to have played a role in climate change.Israel and another country in the region have joint teams which work toensure clouds entering Iranian skies are unable to release rain,” newsagency ISNA quoted him as saying.

He also claimed that scientific studies in Iran have “confirmed” this.

“On top of that, we are facing the issue of cloud and snow theft,” Jalaliadded, citing a survey showing that above 2,200 meters all mountainousareas between Afghanistan and the Mediterranean are covered in snow, exceptIran, Arutz Sheva, an Israeli news organisation said in report.

However, to the embarrassment of the Iranian military officer, themeteorological department of Iran has contradicted him.

Ahad Vazife, head of Iran’s meteorological department, told ISNA, “It isnot possible for any country to steal snow or clouds.” He added thatprobably Brigadier General Jalali “has documents of which I am not aware”.

He said the prolonged droughts in Iran is not unusual and is part of aglobal trend.”Raising such questions not only does not solve any of our problems, butwill deter us from finding the right solutions”, he added, in apparentreference to Jalali’s claims.