Ambassador's Statement at High-Level Meeting: Sand & Dust Storms

Iran's Ambassador has delivered a statement on behalf of the Iranian President during a high-level meeting to discuss sand and dust storms. The full text of the statement is as follows:

Statement by H.E. Mr. Amir Saeid Iravani
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations
on behalf of Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, at the High-Level meeting on Sand and Dust Storms

(10 July 2025, New York)

 

In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

 

Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates,

I am pleased to address this High-Level Meeting on the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms on behalf of Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

At the outset, I thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this important high-level meeting, to deliberate on one of the most pressing yet under-acknowledged global challenges of our era: the escalating menace of sand and dust storms, along with their far-reaching economic, social and environmental repercussions.

Sand and dust storms now affect more than 150 countries, with 45 recognized as major source areas. Each year an estimated two billion tons of mineral dust enters the atmosphere, darkening skies, crippling transport, and impairing human health.

Dust storms do not stop at national borders. Wind carries fine dust across oceans and continents. Today, over 330 million people are exposed to dangerous levels of sand and dust storms every day. Yet, this serious issue still receives much less political attention, cooperation and funding than other environmental problems.

Mr. President, at this very moment, as we are gathered here, numerous cities across my country, Iran, and several other countries in the region are experiencing the active manifestation of sand and dust storms, underscoring the immediacy and transboundary nature of this escalating environmental challenge.

According to the reports, sand and dust storms undermine 11 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. If left unaddressed, sand and dust storms will continue to erode the very foundations of our sustainable development. Therefore, combatting sand and dust storms must be integrated into the core programme of the United Nations, particularly within its development agenda.

The General Assembly’s proclamation of 2025-2034 as the “UN Decade on Combating Sand and Dust Storms” transforms today’s concerns into a ten-year work programme. It complements the establishment of 12 July as this International Day, reminding us annually of our vulnerability and responsibility.

Yet resolutions alone are insufficient; we must translate commitments into concrete action through enhanced financing, technology transfer, and capacity-building, particularly for the countries most affected. In this regard, strengthening regional and international cooperation is essential, and existing obstacles to collaboration—especially unilateral coercive measures (UCMs)—must be removed to ensure effective and inclusive responses.

Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates,

Sand and dust storms are driven by a combination of factors, including land degradation, climate change, unsustainable water management, and, critically, armed conflicts and wars—many of which have been imposed on our region. These conflicts have led to the emergence of new dust hotspots across the region. Armed conflicts are therefore not only a humanitarian and political crisis but also a significant environmental driver, exacerbating the frequency and severity of Sand and Dust Storms. Addressing the environmental consequences of armed conflict، including their role in intensifying Sand and Dust Storm، must be treated as an urgent priority within the framework of this Organization.

In this context, the recent Israeli and U.S. military attacks on Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards on 13 and 23 June, in flagrant violations of the UN Charter and international law, are deeply alarming. Any attack on nuclear facilities risks catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences. Such illegal acts, explicitly prohibited under international law, demand an urgent response. The international community, and in particular the UN Security Council must not remain silent in the face of these grave violations and their lasting impact on civilians and the environment.

We also acknowledge and highly value the efforts of ESCAP and ESCWA in their current capacities as co-chairs of the United Nations Coalition on Combating Sand and Dust Storms and commend their continued commitment to promoting coordinated and effective action in addressing this transboundary challenge. In light of the growing global significance of Sand and Dust Storms, it is imperative that the role and functions of the Coalition be further strengthened, enabling it to provide more tangible and sustained support to the countries most affected by sand and dust storms.

The Islamic Republic of Iran stands as both a frontline State and a leading pioneer in combatting sand and dust storms, actively engaging at the national, regional, and international levels. Allow me to name a few:

At the national level: A dedicated National Coordination Committee on Sand and Dust Storms guides and oversees policy formulation and implementation and Large-scale afforestation and rangeland rehabilitation programmes have been scaled up, with more than 20,000 hectares stabilized annually under the framework of our Seventh National Development Plan.

At the regional level: Iran has hosted a Regional Conference on Sand and Dust Storms and has concluded memoranda of understanding with some neighboring countries in West Asia and engages in close cooperation with ESCAP under the framework of the Regional Plan of Action on Sand and Dust Storms, aimed at promoting coordinated and sustainable responses to this transboundary challenge.

At the international level, Iran, in cooperation with the United Nations, ha convened two international conferences on combating sand and dust storms—the first in 2017 and the most recent in September 2023 in Tehran—with the participation of numerous countries and relevant international organizations.

Mr. President, in conclusion, these sustained efforts clearly reflect the Islamic Republic of Iran’s firm commitment and readiness to share its technical expertise, best practices, and innovative solutions at the bilateral, regional, and multilateral levels. We stand prepared to work collaboratively with all partners to ensure that the forthcoming United Nations Decade on Combating Sand and Dust Storms becomes a decade of concrete action, truly cooperation and partnership.

Thank you for your attention.