BEIJING -- Head of Iran Meteorological Organization Ali-Mohammad Nourian said here that although the attack on Iran may not be palpable on the world environment, but will definitely affect the Persian Gulf region.

Nourian, who is here to attend a seminar on changing of environment and its effect, added if the war drags on and even more fuel or oil well are set aflame in the future, the effect could be catastrophic on the water sources, sea animals as well as on vast swath of green pastures in the region.

The deputy head of World Meteorological Association said the weather currents in the Middle East are such that the war-related pollution will be diverted towards eastern part of Iran and will cause acid rain falls and endangering forests and agricultural produce.

Deputy Head of the Department of the Environment (DOE) Yousef Hojjat declared here that mobile environmental pollution measuring stations are set up in western and southern frontier areas.

He told IRNA that part of the equipment was installed at the border areas during the past month and that three others which have been dispatched are to become operational as of today.

Referring to the DOE programs planned to resist the environmental consequences of the U.S. attack against Iraq, he said that the plans are predicted to fight the possible air, water, soil, sea, lake, and inland rivers pollution.

Hojjat said that the inland air pollution measuring stations are also stationed in the area to enable constant checking of the air conditions and measuring any pollution that might arise from burning of fuel reservoirs and oil wells.

He referred to air pollution as an unstable type, adding that it is partially removed by wind and rainfall.

The official added that, on the other hand, some pollution such as that of water might persist for several days or weeks. Stressing that some types can even linger for many years, such as soil pollution, he said, "DOE is to measure any pollution right away. Otherwise, samples will be taken to be examined later to survey the trend of effects of the current war on the environment on a strong scientific basis."