An Iranian general has accused the neighbouring nation of Israel of manipulating the weather to steal their clouds and snow.
Brigadier General Gholam Reza Jalali, the head of Iran's civil defence organisation, made the claims at a conference on agriculture in the Iranian capital of Tehran, according to local media company Tasnim News Agency.
"Joint teams from Israel and one of the neighbouring countries make the clouds entering into Iran barren. Moreover, we are faced with the cases of cloud theft and snow theft," he said.
General Jalali did not name the other country he believed was stealing the clouds and snow. He also said he believes foreign interference played a role in climate change.
The head of Iran's meteorological service did not believe the general's claims, although he admits he may not have all the information, the Daily Mail reports.
"[The general] 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," Ahad Vazife said.
"Iran has suffered a prolonged drought, and this is a global trend that does not apply only to Iran."
General Jalali is not the first Iranian member of government to suggest poor weather has been deliberately caused by other nations.
In 2011 the then-President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, accused western countries of causing a drought in Iran, the Daily Mail reports.
"Today our country is moving towards drought, which is partly unintentional due to industry and partly intentional, as a result of the enemy destroying the clouds moving towards our country," he said.
"This is a war that Iran is going to overcome."
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