Iran Prosecutes Environmental Scientist for Criticizing Regime’s Spending Priorities
Hussain Hazbavi 
Iran’s judiciary has filed charges against prominent environmental scientist and activist Esmail Kahrom after he publicly stated that the government could “bring mazut (heavy fuel oil) up to international standards for the price of just 10 missiles.”
Iranian media reported on Monday, December 8, that Kahrom who previously served as an adviser to Iran’s Department of Environment is being pursued for making “false statements harmful to national security.”
Charges were also brought against the director of the Jamaran news outlet, which conducted the interview.
In the November 30 interview with Jamaran, Kahrom noted that each Iranian missile costs approximately $2 million, arguing that if public health were truly a priority for officials, they could solve Iran’s mazut-quality crisis with the cost of ten missiles.
“But they don’t,” he said, “because their priorities lie elsewhere.”
Kahrom warned that mazut used in Iran contains sulfur levels seven times higher than the global standard, and added that the quality of gasoline in the country is also “unacceptable.”
State Media Defends Military Spending, Dismisses Environmental Concerns
In response, Pajvak-e Khabarnegaran-e Javan a media outlet affiliated with the state broadcasting corporation accused Kahrom of promoting the idea that Iran should divert its defense budget toward environmental needs.
The outlet described “security” as an absolute necessity and claimed that environmental issues are merely a “pretext” that cannot take precedence over Iran’s military capabilities.
