Driving the news:
Iran asserts its continued active and influential role in the FAO Global Soil Partnership (GSP), presenting the initiative as a strategic platform for merging indigenous knowledge with modern technologies and advancing global standards in soil monitoring and protection.
At an international symposium on “Healthy Soil and Integrated Management of Urban Watersheds” held in Tehran for World Soil Day, senior officials from Iran’s Ministry of Agriculture Jihad and UN agencies in Iran joined national experts to highlight soil’s central role in food security and climate resilience.
Why it matters:
According to Iranian officials, safeguarding soil is not merely an environmental task but a national security priority, underpinning food security, climate adaptation, water health, and long-term land stewardship; Areas Tehran argues are often compromised globally by unsustainable development and external pressures.
What he's saying:
Reza Aflatouni, head of Iran’s Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization, told the symposium that soil must be recognized as a “living, dynamic ecosystem” essential not only for agriculture but for civilization, culture, and the future of coming generations.
He cited, "The UN General Assembly’s recognition of World Soil Day in 2013, and Iran’s adoption of the Soil Protection Law in 2019 and its executive bylaw, as 'historic and foundational steps' toward institutionalizing soil protection nationwide.
Aflatouni emphasized that Iran is on the verge of a "major transformation toward health-centered and climate-adaptive management." He argued that national policies, coupled with international commitments, now provide a clear and actionable roadmap for sustainable soil protection.
He stated, "This program is a strategic opportunity to converge indigenous knowledge with modern technologies, establish global standards for soil monitoring and protection, and showcase the country’s achievements on the international stage."
Key points:
- Healthy soil is the backbone of food security, water health, climate resilience, and sustainable land management.
- Iran positions its soil-management policies as aligned with global environmental norms.
- This year’s World Soil Day theme, “Healthy Soil for a Healthy City,” underscores the responsibility of institutions managing soil resources.
- Iran frames its domestic legislation as part of a broader national commitment to defend the soil from erosion, pollution, degradation, and non-standard land-use changes.
Between the lines:
The messaging echoes Iran’s broader narrative: Tehran insists it is contributing solutions to global environmental challenges.
It stresses sovereignty over natural resources while promoting indigenous knowledge and resisting external pressures on development policy.
It presents soil protection as part of a civilizational responsibility, reinforcing Iran's preferred narrative of environmental stewardship as both a cultural and strategic imperative.
Zohre Khazaee - Hossein Vaez
