Shorouk Express
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 2. Iranian media
reports that Armenia’s persistent pollution of the Araz River
literally reflects the pollution of the ecosystem, Trend reports.
Iranian media outlets published an article with facts and
research confirming that Armenia is engaged in persistent pollution
of the Araz River.
The article contains a large number of government and university
research, and statements by officials of relevant agencies, members
of parliament, and university professors.
The piece states that Iran has many government documents and
university research that indicate that the process of Araz River
pollution has been going on for a long time. These documents and
research confirm that the Araz River has been continuously polluted
with heavy metals for at least 15 years. Thus, the constant inflow
of heavy metals into this river has a serious negative impact on
the vegetation, flora, and wildlife around it.
The Araz River is mainly polluted with elements such as
aluminum, copper, manganese, arsenic, lead, and vanadium, which
come from Armenia’s mines and the Metsamor nuclear power plant.
Research conducted last year on the Araz River in the sections
before and after the Nurduz Pass confirms that the river is
polluted with heavy metals.
According to the research, Iranian Energy Minister Abbas
Aliabadi declared last August that the Araz River water would be
transported to Tabriz to meet drinking water needs. He also stated
that 2.5 million residents of the cities of Jolfa, Hadishehr,
Marend, Sufian, and Shabistar will be provided with this water.
Earlier, the governor of East Azerbaijan Province also labeled the
transportation of water from the Araz River to Tabriz as a
“strategic project”. However, past research indicates that the Araz
River is seriously polluted with heavy metals. This issue has been
confirmed by the Iranian state. However, Armenia, which is the
party polluting the Araz River, is not taking steps to remedy the
problem.
The research shows that as many as 59 metals have been detected
in the water of the Araz River on the Iranian side near the village
of Jananli, and 61 metals have been detected in the sediments of
the river. The identified metals correspond to metals discharged
from the Agarak copper and molybdenum mine in Armenia. The hardness
of aluminum exceeds the country, environmental and health standard.
Mangi’s hardness is higher than Iran’s standard. High lead content
in the river water may be hazardous for drinking and fish.
The study says that with the contamination of the Araz River by
the Metsamor NPP, diseases such as stomach cancer have increased in
the region. This was especially true in the provinces of Ardabil,
East and West Azerbaijan. Occupying the 22nd place among the
country’s provinces in terms of population, Ardabil ranks first in
gastrointestinal cancer incidence.
The research emphasizes that although an agreement was reached
between Iran and Armenia in November 2023 to eliminate the
pollution of the area within the next year, there are no concrete
results and no serious steps are being taken by Armenia, which is
the cause of the pollution.
To note, Iranian and Azerbaijani media publish articles and
op-eds related to the ongoing pollution of the Araz River by
Armenia.
