Head of Iran’s Department of Environment Shina Ansari met separately with Iraqi Environment Minister Sarwa Abdulwahid and Turkish Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum.

In her meeting with the Iraqi minister, Ansari emphasized the need to strengthen bilateral environmental cooperation in light of the two neighbors’ shared cultural ties, geographical proximity and long common border.

The two sides also called for closer engagement, including reciprocal visits to Tehran and Baghdad and joint talks involving relevant agencies. Ansari also invited Abdulwahid to attend an international wetlands day commemoration summit scheduled for February 2027.

In talks with Kurum, Ansari stressed the need to expand cooperation and accelerate the implementation of existing environmental agreements. She said the participation of the Iranian president and a high-ranking delegation in the COP31 summit in Antalya reflected the importance Iran attaches to environmental issues, and described attacks on fuel depots around Tehran during the recent US-Israeli war of aggression as an instance of ecocide.

For his part, Kurum welcomed the Iranian delegation’s participation in COP31, describing Iran as a partner in advancing the summit’s objectives. He also stressed the need for developing countries to adopt common positions, citing the failure of developed nations to fulfill their climate commitments.