DW, March 6, 2017 – Iranian politicians like to refer to their country as an “island of stability” in the Middle East. But the country has severe environmental problems, and nobody feels responsible – with wide-reaching consequences.
Dust cloud with toxic particles
In Ahwaz, the instruments that monitors pollution from particulates were out of action for days. “Within hours, there was dust everywhere. Suddenly, I red spots appeared all over the body. The skin felt like it was on fire and was person had to be hospitalized,” a teacher in Khuzestan, the capital lf a province rich in oil told DW.
Burnt-out neighbor
Sandstorms have become a nightmare for people in southern Iran. For eight years the storms have cohnstantly increased in intensity, and spread toxic particles. Iranian politicians claim they come from neighboring country Iraq. There, 35 years of constant war have left date palm forests burnt, agriculture ruined and the air full of chemicals.
Poor water management
Iranian politicians like to call their country an “island of stability” in the Middle East, but especially when it comes to environmental issues, things do not look good. Climate change and poor water management have let to 80 percent of the country’s most important lakes drying up. These areas are the most significant contributors to dust pollution. Thee Karun river in Ahwaz is also drying up.
Becoming uninhabitable
In spite of all this, Iran has no strategy to protect the environment. In January, the German “Heinrich Boll Foundation” published a report on water shortage in Iran. 160 pages are dedicated to describing the country’s massive environmental problems. “The pressing water shortage is threatening to make vast areas of land uninhabitable in the future,” the report warns.
Rouhani under pressure
Conservative politicians accuse Hassan Rouhani’s government of not having the situation under control. In turn, Rouhani blames his predecessor Mahmud Ahmadinejad for the impending environmental catastrophe. During his presidency, Ahmadinejad accused the West of having caused the drought in Iran – as part of a “sinister plan fo undermine the Islamic Republic.”
Power cuts disrupt the oil-industry
The sandstorm in Khuzestan caused massive disturbances in the electric power supply. The consequences wee immense. The oil-industry in Khuzestan was temporarily at a standstill. 750,000 barrels of crude oil are produced in this province every day. The oil-industry’s revenues make up a large part of the Iranian national budget. A representative from Khuzestan waned of a national crisis.
Official lack of responsibility
Nobody accepts responsibility for this mismanagement, or for delay in carrying out rescue mission in the province. A lack of crisis management turns into a management crisis.
