Iran’s First Vice President Calls for Innovative and Just Solutions to Global Water Security Challenges
Tehran, The Gulf Observer: Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has emphasized the urgent need for the global community to adopt innovative and equitable strategies to secure water resources for all people, in remarks delivered at the High-level International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Speaking on Friday at the three-day event, which runs from May 29 to 31, Aref stressed that such strategies are crucial not only for turning existing environmental challenges into opportunities, but also for preventing social tensions, forced migrations, and the degradation of livelihoods—ultimately paving the way toward global water security.
“Climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution are three of the most pressing global challenges threatening both human health and the environment,” he said, urging collective international action.
Aref welcomed the conference’s goal of fostering global cooperation to develop practical strategies for glacier preservation, noting that glaciers are vital natural sources of freshwater and play a critical role in sustaining ecosystems and communities.
Highlighting Iran’s own efforts in water resource management, the Vice President outlined a range of national projects, including the construction of dams, the implementation of modern irrigation systems, advancements in water recycling technology, and the development of desalination plants. These initiatives, he said, are being pursued alongside efforts to preserve Iran’s historic water infrastructure.
He also praised Iran’s ancient water management practices, particularly the use of qanats—ingenious underground channels designed to transport water from aquifers to surface areas while minimizing evaporation. “These systems have sustained Iranian civilization for centuries and represent a valuable model for sustainable water management,” Aref noted.
The conference in Dushanbe brings together high-level representatives, scientists, and environmental experts from around the world to address the preservation of glaciers, which are rapidly melting due to global warming, threatening water supplies for millions of people across Asia and beyond.
