According to the Public Relations Office of the Department of Environment, Jila Mehdi Aghaei, Senior Advisor to the Head of the Department, spoke at the United Nations Day ceremony, noting the longstanding ties between Iran and the United Nations, which span 79 years. She expressed that in recent years, there has been closer engagement, increased consultations, and enhanced cooperation between high-level officials at various levels, reflecting a mutual commitment to strengthen ties in multiple areas and to support stability and security in the region and beyond.

Aghaei expressed hope that the 14th Administration would pursue unceasing efforts to strengthen relations and expand environmental cooperation. She added that the long-standing goodwill between Iran and the United Nations should remain unaffected by the views and actions of powerful nations. Aghaei called for intensified efforts from both sides to advance multilateral collaboration, especially in environmental matters.Highlighting specific examples of collaborative environmental initiatives, she mentioned Iran’s membership in 12 environmental conventions and protocols, joint projects on the conservation of Iranian wetlands, the Persian cheetah protection project, biodiversity conservation programs, the adoption of a resolution on combating sand and dust storm at the sixth United Nations Environment Assembly, and the organization of international conferences addressing sand and dust storms.

Aghaei further underscored the need for enhanced cooperation in capacity building and technology transfer to manage waste, protect wetlands, combat sand and dust storms, and control pollution and climate change.

Aghaei warned of the destructive mix of pollution, misguided climate policies, and biodiversity loss, which are transforming healthy lands into deserts and thriving ecosystems into dead zones. Climate change, driven by human activity and greenhouse gas emissions, significantly impacts all socio-ecological systems, posing serious risks to water resources, land use, waste management, forests and grasslands, coastal areas, tourism, health, and more, ultimately weakening Earth’s ability to support ecosystems, agriculture, and communities.She continued by noting that cities, as hubs of modern life, are left increasingly vulnerable to these impacts, while countries face waves of human displacement as previously habitable areas become unlivable.

Highlighting peace and stability as cornerstones of Iran's foreign policy, Aghaei added that the 14th Administration, based on national consensus, seeks to expand international relations and collaboration. She underscored that comprehensive cooperation with the United Nations holds a prominent place within this framework. She went on to say that the history of relations and cooperation demonstrates ample potential for expanding ties at regional and international levels. With high-level commitment, cooperation in various fields, including the environment, can be significantly strengthened. In light of the ongoing regional and international shifts, particularly the enduring crises in the Middle East, Aghaei stressed the importance of continued dialogue between Iran and the United Nations at all levels.

Finally, Aghaei affirmed that Iran has consistently been a frontrunner in environmental matters and sustainable development. She pointed out, however, that illegal and unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States have posed challenges in environmental fields, where global cooperation is essential. She called for unified condemnation of the impediments these sanctions place on access to advanced technologies and financial networks.