In comments at a meeting with Iranian environmentalists in Tehran on Saturday, Raeisi said Iran itself has devised grand strategies for the protection of environment.

IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK

“With the existence of such (local) documents, there is no need for treaties like the Paris Agreement,” the top Iranian official stated.

Although international cooperation for the protection of environment is necessary, there have been enough intellectual and religious discussions about the issue in the country, the top judge added, stressing, “We do not need to enter this arena (Paris Agreement) now for conservation of the environment.”

He further highlighted the importance of environmental diplomacy, saying Iran has close environmental interaction with 15 neighboring states.

He also criticized the western states’ greed for the development of nuclear weapons, warning of their hazardous impacts on the environment.

“Today, the arms race between the arrogant American and European powers has endangered the environment,” Raeisi said, addressing Iranian environmentalists.

“They have endangered the environment with nuclear weapons for their individual and group interests,” he added.

Nuclear weapons pose the single biggest threat to the Earth’s environment, scientists have warned.

The Judiciary Chief also urged the related organs and organizations to stop issuing licenses for those who want to destroy the nature for their own interests.

He added that the Constitution has underscored environment protection and all officials are assigned to help the environment protection.

Hojjatoleslam Raeisi reiterated all people are responsible for the environmental issues and protecting the nature and environment.

In November 2015, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei outlined 15 environmental policies developed in consultation with the Expediency Council in line with implementing the first paragraph of Article 110 of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Constitution.

Development of an integrated national environmental system and the necessity for comprehensive, coordinated and systematic management of the country’s vital resources (including water, soil, air, and biodiversity) were among the most important policies that the Leader outlined in a letter to heads of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Iranian government.