TEHRAN — Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif took up 18 degrees challenge raised by Department of Environment chief Masoumeh Ebtekar to mitigate air pollution.

In support of Ebtekar’s mounted challenge, Zarif thanked her on his twitter account, deeming the challenge absolutely essential for “ourselves” and “our children”.

In a recent statement to the vice presidents, ministers, and governors Ebtekar called for a national movement to lower the temperature of the houses and offices nationwide to 18 degrees.

Moreover, she asked the offices to turn off the heaters on holidays to limit the emission to the minimum.

Ebtekar urged Iranian officials and public to join hands in helping to cut back on the amount of the greenhouse gases and air pollution by accepting the proposed challenge.

Furthermore, President Rouhani’s deputy for women and family affairs Shahindokht Molaverdi and Mahmoud Vaezi Iran's Minister of Communications and Information Technology accepted the challenge.

The persisting air pollution has been plaguing metropolises in Iran for some years, particularly with the beginning of the cold season. Hadn’t been for the recent rainfalls in Tehran, the air pollution would have kept on haunting the city.

MQ/PA

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The picture that Ebtekar added on her twitter account lowering the temperature accompanied by the letters she has sent to the officials