An Environmental Activist: Ghalibaf Supports the Investor of the Miankaleh Project

While the conflict between environmental activists and enthusiasts of Iran's "natural heritage" and the officials of the Islamic Republic over the destruction of the protected Miankaleh region under the pretext of constructing a petrochemical complex has intensified, an environmental activist states that "the investor of Miankaleh is supported by the Speaker of the Parliament." Mohammad Darvish, a researcher and environmental activist, told "Didar News" about the situation in Miankaleh: "The reality is that this area brings an unusual economic benefit to opportunists, and it is even more surprising that the investor is a major bank debtor, yet this person is supported by Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Parliament." According to him, "Having this rent and support has caused the investor not only to not back down from his demands but also to gain the support of other parts of the government, such as the Friday Imam of Behshahr and the Governor of Mazandaran." This environmental activist added that "the government also bypasses the environment": "Although the Environmental Organization is standing firmly against this issue, given these pressures, it is no longer realistic to expect resistance, and interestingly, the organization fought much harder for Miankaleh than it did against the Chamsir dam." For about a year and a half, the issue of constructing the Mazandaran petrochemical complex in Miankaleh has been met with negative reactions from environmentalists, local people, and many media outlets. Although it seemed that the construction of this factory had been halted due to increasing opposition, a recent video showed that the project has not been canceled, and the threat of constructing the petrochemical complex still endangers Miankaleh. Previously, the order to halt this project had provoked anger and criticism from the Speaker of the Parliament himself. On Wednesday, April 24, Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf expressed concern about the business environment and economic security in the open session of Parliament, stating: "For example, in the past twenty days, in an investment where the administrative path has been resolved and has gone to the highest levels, and has received government approval and land has been allocated to him, and he has invested several tens of billions, then someone comes and says that this issue should be reviewed again and the work is halted." He also fully supported the private investor of the Miankaleh petrochemical project, adding: "What does this mean? Which investor would come under such conditions, go through all the stages, and then be told that the work should be halted? If there was a problem, why did you allocate the land for the project to him? Why did you give him the deed? Some groups are pursuing the issue politically." Experts say that the construction of the petrochemical complex in Miankaleh will lead to the destruction of the local farmers and herders' community, and since the petrochemical industry is water-intensive, this region in northern Iran will face severe water shortages.