The United States obviously recognizes a clean environment as a right that affects other human rights, however, the sanctions against Iran contradict what seems to be a clear U.S. position on this matter, the group of Special Rapporteurs and the Independent Expert of the United Nations on international solidarity, said in a statement on Tuesday.

“It is time for sanctions that impede Iran's ability to improve the environment and reduce the ill effects on health and life, to be eased or lifted completely so that Iranians can access their right to a clean environment, the right to health and to life, and other rights associated with favorable environmental conditions,” the experts highlighted.

U.S. sanctions on Iran are resulting in harm to the country’s environment and preventing everyone there - including migrants and Afghan refugees - from fully enjoying their rights to health and life, and contributing to other factors such as rising air pollution, they said, noting that the US referred to environmental quality as important to human health when it agreed this year to cooperate with the World Health Organisation (WHO) over environmental improvements.

“Like many countries, Iran has environmental issues. The sanctions not only prevent the Iranian Government from addressing them effectively; they contribute to making the challenges worse.”

Tehran pollution, 'no surprise'

Air pollution is a particular concern and reportedly causes higher levels of respiratory and other diseases among residents, which lead to an estimated 4,000 premature deaths per year in the capital Tehran and 40,000 premature deaths annually across the country.

U.S. sanctions on Iran are resulting in harm to the country’s environment and preventing everyone there - including migrants and Afghan refugees - from fully enjoying their rights to health and life.

“It is no surprise that Tehran is one of the world’s most polluted cities”, the experts stated. “U.S. sanctions force people to prolong the use of older vehicles that burn fuel less efficiently while making it impossible for Iran to obtain equipment and technology to reduce vehicle emissions”.

The U.S. has had unilateral sanctions in place against Iran since the revolution of 1979, and sanctions remain in place in connection with the stalled Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), more commonly referred to as the Iran nuclear deal. President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018.

The experts added that U.S. efforts to enforce its sanctions by threatening to penalize foreign companies doing business in Iran have led foreign car manufacturers to leave. “So, Iran must rely on locally made motors and other equipment that cannot use the latest technologies,” they said.

Solar plants blocked

In an official communication to the U.S. Government in September, the experts said sanctions had also led foreign energy firms to abandon projects to build large solar power plants in Iran, on a scale that domestic companies are unable to match.

“This is also a result of the sanctions,” they said, “since they prevent foreign investment.”

The Human Rights Council-appointed experts noted that the sanctions impede Iranian scientists from engaging in joint environmental research projects abroad and even prevent Iranians from accessing online databases and courses about environmental issues and sustainability.

“The effects of the sanctions on the right to education and the right to benefit from scientific progress are also blocking progress in improving Iran’s environment,” they said.

The UN General Assembly recognized the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment in a resolution it passed in July 2022 – a resolution backed by the U.S., the experts noted.

 

 

By TEHRAN TIMES