TEHRAN – “The illegal anti-Iran sanctions” have had damaging impacts on the environment in Iran as the country has been prevented to acquire the required technology to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution, the head of Iran’s Department of the Environment says.

Masoumeh Ebtekar made the remarks in a meeting with Italian Environment Minister Gian Luca Galletti during a ceremony signing a joint plan of action agreement between the two countries’ environmental bodies.

She, however, said that the Rouhani administration is seriously determined to take the necessary measures to reduce pollution and detrimental environmental impacts of greenhouse gases.

The country has succeeded to bring air pollution under control to some extent, she said, adding that in the previous Iranian calendar year, the metropolitan Tehran had 44 more days of clean air compared to the year before and the same applied to other major cities such as Isfahan, Tabriz, and Arak.

Given the commitment of the administration, she said, the country would be able to take more measures in reducing and controlling greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution once the “illegal anti-Iran sanctions” are lifted.

She also stated that there are many common environmental grounds for Iran and Italy to cooperate as the two countries have been impacted by environmental calamities.

Ebtekar expressed hope that Tehran and Rome would set up a joint workshop to study environmental issues and take the required steps to address environmental issues in the near future.

Galletti, for his part, commented on Italy’s extensive activities in the area of environment, saying that biodiversity is one of the country’s priorities and the issue can be an area of cooperation between Tehran and Rome.

MD/PA