Precipitation in Iran and Afghanistan: a natural phenomenon or a technological conspiracy?
Author: Kazem Homayun, analyst (Afghanistan)
In recent days, simultaneously with missile strikes by Iranian forces on U.S. military bases in the Persian Gulf and the subsequent increase in precipitation in some regions of Iran and Afghanistan, some have linked these two developments. Some even claim that with the destruction of American radars, “weather sanctions” have ended and the rain has returned. This claim has spread rapidly on social media, but from a scientific point of view, it is unfounded.
About fifteen years ago, I myself had a similar perception of the “HAARP” project — that the United States could control the weather with its powerful antennas or even cause earthquakes. However, after studying scientific sources, official reports, and gaining some understanding of atmospheric physics, it became clear to me that these are examples of conspiracy theories.
Consider this: precipitation is a complex phenomenon that depends on major factors such as atmospheric patterns, sea surface temperatures (El Niño and La Niña), climate change, monsoon winds, and regional humidity.
Iran and Afghanistan have faced severe drought for many years, and even in autumn 2025, precipitation levels in some areas were reported to be up to 89% below normal. The recent increase in precipitation (especially in late April 2026) may be part of natural atmospheric variability or the limited effect of “cloud seeding” — an operation that Iran itself also carries out.
U.S. military radars (such as the Patriot systems or the “Iron Dome”) are designed solely for detecting missiles and aircraft and are not capable of altering the weather. The “HAARP” project is also a research facility in Alaska for studying the upper layers of the atmosphere, and its impact is limited and unrelated to the formation of clouds and precipitation in the lower atmosphere. Even the energy of an ordinary storm far exceeds the total power of such systems.
If weather control technology did exist, then why would only Iran be targeted, and how could the destruction of a few radars alter precipitation across a vast geographical region? And why has no credible scientific evidence been presented?
The Earth’s atmosphere is a unified global system, and local changes cannot generate widespread precipitation. The real factor affecting the climate of our region is global warming and climate change, which lead to reduced effective rainfall and increased evaporation.
Claims about “climate weapons” resemble Hollywood storylines more than scientific reality. Science relies on satellite data and precise models and shows no connection between these events.
Ultimately, the focus should be on real solutions: water resource management, continued cloud seeding with scientific evaluation, pollution reduction, and regional cooperation. Rumors only distract us from the main issues.
The conclusion is simple: the recent precipitation is a natural phenomenon, not the result of war or radar systems. This is clearly demonstrated by science.
