The Minister of Oil of the Islamic Republic has admitted to the role of the Oil Ministry in the destruction of the environment in Khuzestan province, stating that "the drying of wetlands and air and soil pollution are the result of the Oil Ministry's activities in Khuzestan." The government news agency Tasnim quoted Mohsen Pak Nejad as saying, "The city of Aghajari has numerous problems, and the living conditions in the city are deteriorating, with a large portion of the population under the coverage of the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation." Environmental activists and experts had previously raised this late confession by the Oil Minister over the years, but no attention was paid to these warnings, and today a significant portion of the environment and water resources in this province has been completely destroyed. In this regard, the environmental protection and fisheries advisor to the governor of Khuzestan stated in Bahman 1393 (February 2015) that oil extraction is one of the threats to the destruction of wetlands. Jassem Marmzi emphasized that the Hawr al-Azim and Shadegan wetlands have been polluted and dried due to the establishment of multiple oil fields. Despite these criticisms and warnings, in recent years, the Oil Ministry has been seeking to dry a significant portion of Hawr al-Azim for oil extraction. In this context, Mousa Mudehi, head of the Wetlands Department of the Khuzestan Environmental Protection Agency, stated in a conversation with the "Didban Iran" website in Dey 1402 (December 2023) that his department opposes the Oil Ministry's proposed method for implementing the development plan of the "Sohrab" oil field, which involves creating drilling sites within the wetland and drying part of Hawr al-Azim. Sahar Naseri, a political activist, stated that the environment is not a priority for the Islamic Republic. Annually, 50,000 citizens die due to air pollution in Iran, and there have been widespread arrests in Ahvaz amid concerns from human rights organizations. The drying of a wetland in Alborz and the water crisis in the dams of Khorasan are also highlighted.
Minister Admits Oil Ministry's Role in Environmental Destruction of Khuzestan
The Iranian Oil Minister has acknowledged the ministry's detrimental impact on Khuzestan's environment, particularly through wetland destruction and pollution. This admission follows years of warnings from environmental activists, highlighting a severe environmental crisis in the region. The situation underscores the ongoing neglect of environmental issues by the Iranian government.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Iranian Oil Minister admitted the Oil Ministry's role in environmental destruction in Khuzestan, particularly affecting wetlands and causing pollution.
- The Oil Ministry's activities have led to drying wetlands and pollution in Khuzestan.
- Environmental activists have long warned about these issues, but the government largely ignored them.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Khuzestan is a major oil-producing region in Iran, but its development has led to significant environmental challenges, including wetland destruction.
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