Iran's Sudden Weather Shift Sparks 'Rain Theft' Theory

April 27, 2026 | 05:46 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Drastic weather changes have occurred in Iran after years of drought. In recent times, the country has experienced heavy rain, snow, and a drop in temperature. Several regions are showing signs of recovery, marked by refilled dams and regrowth of green vegetation.

This phenomenon has been widely discussed on social media, especially among pro-Iran accounts. Several posts show overflowing dams and snow-covered streets, which are described as evidence of significant weather changes in the country.

However, these changes have also triggered various conspiracy theories. Some accounts claim that the weather shift did not occur naturally, but is related to the 50-day war between Iran, Israel, and the United States. They allege that the improved conditions followed Iran's missile destruction of certain radar systems used for remote weather manipulation in the country.

"These claims go further, suggesting that targets like the THAAD missile defense system and the AN/FPS-132 early warning radar in Qatar were part of a larger network designed to manipulate weather," as reported by Times Now World on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

This narrative also revives an old theory known as "rain theft," the belief that some countries use weather engineering technology to divert rain from Iran to other regions. This theory has been circulating at least since 2018 and is often associated with differences in weather conditions in border areas.

However, Iranian scientists and meteorological authorities have denied these claims. They affirm that the weather changes are due to natural factors, including the influence of global climate patterns such as El Nino and La Nina, as well as the impact of the previous prolonged heat period. Not to mention the current war's impact causing the phenomenon of "black rain" from refinery and oil depot explosions.

A researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies wrote on the think tank's website on May 23, 2023, that Iranian authorities accused the United Arab Emirates and the United States of stealing rain. However, the allegations were intended to divert attention from domestic mismanagement in the country.

It was stated then that Iran became the fourth country in the world with the most severe water stress. Almost 77 percent of the country's groundwater sources have been exploited extremely, meaning Iran is depleting them three times faster than the sources naturally replenish.

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