Iran’s agriculture minister called on Tuesday for the removal of unilateral sanctions, identifying them as a major impediment to global cooperation in addressing drought and desertification. Speaking at the 17th session of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP17) in Ulan Bator, Gholamreza Nouri-Qezeljeh highlighted the significant impact of drought and land degradation on Iran’s food security and natural resources.

At the conference, which is being held from August 17 to 28 in Mongolia’s capital, Nouri-Qezeljeh stressed that effective action against desertification requires moving beyond political rhetoric toward tangible financial support, technology transfer, and the implementation of projects in vulnerable countries. He noted that the long-standing Western sanctions against Iran, imposed primarily over its nuclear program, have negatively affected various sectors beyond energy, including access to humanitarian goods such as medicines, thereby restricting Iran’s ability to fully engage in environmental and drought mitigation efforts.

Iran, which has approximately 32 million hectares of desert, faces severe challenges from drought and land degradation. The minister emphasized that the country is on the frontline of combating these issues and expressed Tehran’s willingness to share its scientific expertise in water and soil management, watershed and aquifer restoration, forest and rangeland rehabilitation, and enhancing agricultural resilience.

“Combating desertification and drought will only succeed when international cooperation moves beyond slogans and political commitments toward practical action,” Nouri-Qezeljeh stated, urging the global community to adopt a more responsible approach unfettered by political considerations.

COP17 convenes representatives from 197 parties to discuss strategies for land restoration, drought response, and sustainable management of natural resources. The forum serves as a crucial platform for countries to coordinate efforts amidst the growing challenges posed by climate change, land degradation, and funding limitations.