Raisi’s Order to ‘Stop Miankale Project’; Media: Destruction Continues at Faster Pace

While the official news agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran reported an “order” from Ibrahim Raisi to “halt the executive operations for the construction of Miankale petrochemical complex,” some Iranian media outlets have reported that the contractor of this project is working at an accelerated pace.

The “IRNA” news agency reported today regarding this environmentally risky project that it “has been heard” that following Ibrahim Raisi’s “order” to the head of the Environmental Protection Organization to “prevent the construction of Miankale petrochemical complex” and to annul the previous government’s resolution about it, the matter has been placed on the agenda of the Cabinet of Ministers and the file will “soon” be “closed” permanently.

Activists’ Opposition

Miankale International Wetland is one of 9 “biosphere reserves,” Iran’s first wetland registered under the International Wetland Convention, and is one of the important habitats for migratory birds in the region.

In recent months, this wetland has been the site of serious confrontations between environmental activists and local groups supporting the wetland with contractors implementing commercial and industrial projects within its boundaries, and many social media users during this time have expressed concerns about the start and continuation of these projects.

Pressure from Representatives

The head of Iran’s Environmental Protection Organization stated that the petrochemical complex project “does not have environmental permits” and the groundbreaking ceremony held in Miankale for the initiation of its executive operations is “invalid.”

Ali Salajeqeh considered the “pressure” from representatives of the Islamic Consultative Assembly to carry out this project as “strange” and added: “From our perspective, the groundbreaking for this project is not approved; in fact, we believe no groundbreaking has actually taken place.”

Destruction at Faster Pace

However, meanwhile, the news website “Entekhab,” referring to Salajeqeh’s remarks about the Miankale petrochemical project, reported that the contractor of this project, despite government officials’ statements, has “accelerated” its activities.

This website, while publishing videos and images of the current status of the project, reported on the continuation of contractors’ activities and wrote that its executive personnel are “destroying pasture” at a “faster pace.”

The official media of the thirteenth government of the Islamic Republic, in another section of today’s report, announced the time of issuance of this “stop order” by Ibrahim Raisi as “the last cabinet session” and its content as reviewing the construction of Miankale petrochemical “by enumerating violations of law and harm to the environment.”

Miankale wetland also made headlines in Bahman 1400 due to the invasion of a large number of armed hunters into parts of it and 72 hours of confrontation with environmental rangers in the area.

Special Support

The petrochemical construction project in this area was initiated on the 8th of Mehr 1399 with the issuance of initial permits by the Hassan Rouhani government and was officially approved on the 23rd of Esfand 1399 with approval by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Islamic Republic, so that within five kilometers of “Miankale Wildlife Refuge,” contrary to domestic laws and international treaties, risky operations with environmental hazards could commence.

Despite widespread opposition to the construction of this anti-environmental project, however, some government officials, members of parliament, and some media outlets close to a military or governmental institution of the Islamic Republic have always implicitly supported it or backed its implementation.

Media Support

The “Fars” news agency affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, in this regard, while interviewing an expert in favor of its construction, wrote: “There is no doubt that the construction of this petrochemical complex can lead to very suitable economic development for the region.”

The “Journalists’ Club” news agency affiliated with Islamic Republic Radio and Television, while calling public protests against “the construction of Miankale petrochemical complex” a “controversy,” wrote that “some see it as the final blow to the body of the international wetland and some only as the hope for creating employment in the region.”

Main Supporters

The news website “Fararu,” close to Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, in a report considered Gholamreza Shariati, representative of Babol, Neka, and Golvazin in the legislative branch of the Islamic Republic, the “most important supporter” of this 370-million-dollar project and wrote that he had said on the groundbreaking day that “necessary environmental permits” had been obtained.

Based on this report, in addition to him, Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi, Minister of Interior of the Islamic Republic, also gave an “implicit approval” of the “job creation and regional development” through the construction of this petrochemical complex and while “breaking ground” for the project said that the construction of this complex is “in accordance with environmental conditions and regulations.”

Source: Voice of America