Khamenei Issues 'General Policies' for Iran's Environment

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, on Tuesday issued the 'general policies for the country's environment,' which were determined after 'consultation' with the Expediency Council, calling for the 'establishment of a national integrated environmental system.' According to a report by Fars News Agency on Tuesday, November 26, 'coordinated and systematic management of vital resources,' 'criminalization of environmental destruction,' 'preparation of a national ecosystem atlas,' and 'expansion of the green economy and institutionalization of environmental culture and ethics' are among the key points of Khamenei's directive. The Expediency Council of Iran announced on November 6 that the review of the draft 'general policies for the environment' in this body has concluded. The policies issued by the leader of the Islamic Republic emphasize 'strengthening environmental diplomacy' and efforts such as 'working to create and strengthen regional institutions to combat dust and water pollution.' 'Attracting targeted and impactful bilateral, multilateral, regional, and international cooperation' is also among the other aspects of these policies. Previously, Masoumeh Ebtekar, head of Iran's Environmental Organization, announced that 23 provinces are affected by dust storms in different seasons, with their foreign origin being Iraq. According to her, Jordan, Syria, and Saudi Arabia are also involved in transferring dust storms to Iran. On Thursday, October 16, she reported that Iran has requested that the issue of drafting a global convention to combat dust be raised at the upcoming meeting of environment ministers. On Wednesday, November 20, the Iranian government approved a 'national participation program for reducing greenhouse gas emissions' while making the implementation of parts of it 'conditional' on lifting sanctions against Tehran. In recent years, multiple environmental issues have arisen in Iran, including the drying of lakes and wetlands and the unhealthy air in major cities. Some experts attribute the drying of several lakes in Iran, including Lake Urmia, to the construction of numerous dams along the paths of these lakes. However, the policies issued by the leader of the Islamic Republic do not mention any reconsideration of dam construction policies in the future. 'Combating environmental threats such as microbial and radioactive contagion factors and recognizing emerging environmental phenomena' are also among the other sections of the leader's directive. In recent years, concerns have also been raised about the environmental impacts of Iran's power plants and nuclear reactors. For instance, in 2013, following reports of damage to the Bushehr power plant after an earthquake in the area, the Gulf Cooperation Council called for a delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect the Bushehr plant. The effects of jamming signals intended to prevent Iranian citizens from accessing foreign Persian-language satellite networks and the installation of telecommunications towers in residential areas have also been repeatedly discussed by the media and Iranian officials. However, the policies issued by the leader of the Islamic Republic do not explicitly address these issues.