Iran expands ties with neighboring countries to bolster environmental diplomacy
The Vice President and head of Iran’s Department of the Environment (DoE) Ali Salajegheh emphasized the country’s commitment to strengthening environmental diplomacy with friendly, neighboring, and Muslim nations during a meeting with the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Iran on Tuesday.
Salajegheh highlighted the shared cultural and religious ties between Iran and Kazakhstan, expressing hope for the expansion of their relationship across various sectors, IRNA reported.
He further underscored the importance of the Tehran Convention, a joint agreement for the protection of the Caspian Sea environment, despite its lack of tangible achievements to date.
The vice president voiced concern over the deteriorating conditions of the Caspian Sea, noting a decrease in water flow and an increase in pollutant concentration. He stressed the need for cooperative management among the coastal countries to address these issues.
Salajegheh also referred to Iran’s role as host of the 7th COP summit and the anniversary of the Tehran Convention, expressing optimism for swift resolution of outstanding issues from the 6th COP summit.
In light of global climate change and its repercussions, Salajegheh identified dust storms as a significant consequence requiring international attention and joint agreements. He recalled a regional meeting of environment ministers hosted by Iran on July 12, 2022, which led to the United Nations General Assembly designating July 12 as International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms.
The head of DoE announced that Iran will host an international conference on dust management on September 9-10, 2023, expecting the participation of at least 60 high-ranking officials from around the world. He extended an invitation to the Minister of Environment and the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to attend the conference.
Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Iran, Askhat Orazbay, acknowledged the dust problem as a challenge in Kazakhstan as well and viewed the upcoming conference as an opportunity to explore management solutions. Orazbay also recognized the Caspian Sea as a shared heritage and stressed the need for cooperation among Tehran Convention member states to address its environmental challenges.
Orazbay affirmed the strong relations between Iran and Kazakhstan across all fields, including environmental cooperation.