Iran’s Foreign Minister Warns Sanctions Undermine Global Climate Cooperation at BRICS Environmental Summit
Brasília, July 08, 2025 – The Europe Today: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has strongly criticized the imposition of unilateral sanctions by certain developed countries, warning that such politically motivated measures have severely undermined international efforts to combat climate change and address environmental crises.
Speaking at the BRICS Summit on Environment and Global Health held in Brazil, Araqchi stated that sanctions—particularly those imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran—pose serious obstacles to developing nations seeking to address the devastating impacts of climate change.
“These unjust measures are in direct contradiction with the global goals of environmental protection and sustainable development,” he said, calling for a reevaluation of international mechanisms that allow for such practices.
The Iranian foreign minister underscored the urgent and worsening nature of climate threats, noting that rising temperatures, dwindling water resources, widespread wildfires, collapsing ecosystems, and climate-induced displacement have become part of daily life for millions of people.
Highlighting Iran’s domestic efforts, Araqchi pointed to ongoing initiatives focused on water management, the development of renewable energy, and ecosystem restoration. However, he emphasized that these national efforts must be supported by international cooperation grounded in the principle of climate justice.
“Lasting solutions require accountability from industrialized nations—those historically responsible for the bulk of global emissions—and their commitment to financing and transferring clean technologies to the developing world,” he stressed.
Araqchi also criticized the failure of wealthier countries to meet their climate finance and emissions reduction commitments, accusing them of deepening global environmental inequality and jeopardizing the future of vulnerable populations.
In a separate portion of his remarks, the Iranian foreign minister condemned recent attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran’s nuclear facilities, calling them “reckless violations” of international law that endanger both human and ecological safety.
“These are acts of aggression by nuclear-armed states against a non-nuclear country that is fully compliant with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) monitoring,” he stated. “Such actions carry the risk of irreversible environmental harm.”
The minister referenced the war launched by Israel against Iran on June 13, which included the assassination of several senior Iranian military and nuclear officials. The conflict also involved attacks on Iran’s civilian nuclear infrastructure, drawing international concern over the safety of nuclear materials and surrounding ecosystems.
In retaliation, Iran launched nearly two dozen phases of Operation True Promise III against Israeli targets. The hostilities ceased on June 24 following Israel’s unilateral decision to agree to a ceasefire.
Araqchi’s statements at the BRICS forum underscored Iran’s call for a more equitable global approach to environmental protection—one that rejects coercive policies and prioritizes cooperation, justice, and shared responsibility in confronting the world’s climate and ecological challenges.
