Iranian Minister Apologizes to Nation over Dust Pollution Crisis

“I apologize to the nation for the difficulties caused by the dust pollution, and the prolonged water, power and telephone communication cut in Khuzestan province,” Agriculture Minister Mahmoud Hojjati said.

“An urgent operation has been kicked off in Khuzestan to stabilise 40,000 hectares of domestic dust origins,” he noted, according to a Farsi report by Khabar Online.

“This short-term plan will be carried out in one month.”

He also mentioned another plan to avert the dust pollution originating from inside the country, and said, “In the long-term, comprehensive plan, 800,000 hectares of desert areas will be stabilised through biological ways such as growing plants and climatically accommodated trees, and mulching and releasing water in some parts within four or five years.”

“A following plan will also be carried out to handle the foreign-originated dust in the region,” he added.

“The dust crisis is being defused in a national perspective to improve the environmental conditions of the lives of Khuzestan residents.”

He stressed that the Iranian administration, president, and people are all concerned about the crisis.