Ayatollah Khamenei Calls for Action on Dust Pollution, Flood in Southern Iran

Addressing a group of his seminary students on Monday, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the recent natural crises, namely the dust pollution in the southwest and the flood in southern and southeastern Iran.

“These tragedies are really heartbreaking,” the Leader said, urging the Iranian authorities to cope with the problems and find definitive solutions for them.

Referring to his experiences of devastating floods and their impact on people’s lives, the Leader said, “Flood is a massive disaster which damages people and families. It is an obligation to help the affected people in southern Iran.”

Ayatollah Khamenei then referred to the cut of power, water and communication lines in Khuzestan, southwestern Iran, as another severe difficulty.

“If someone is concerned about Iranians, he cannot neglect the crisis in Khuzestan. Iranian governments have a definite, immediate, and permanent duty to care about their nation.”

Ayatollah Khamenei also criticized the officials who shirk their responsibility towards the dust crisis instead of dealing with it.

“I accept that some problems need long-term solutions, but it is neither acceptable nor useful to say that the current conditions are the result of the past authorities’ negligence.”

“After a while, our successors will judge us too, asking why we did nothing to resolve the nation’s problems.”

“We must touch the problems people face in their lives,” he stressed. “And we must think, work, and strive to sort these issues out, sympathizing with people,” the Leader added.