Key developments
since March 1999: The first known conference on the landmine problem in
Iran was held in Tehran on 15-16 February 2000, organized by the
non-governmental High Center of Research and Informatics.
Mine Ban Policy
Iran has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty. As
reasons, the government has cited its special geographical situation and stated
that a prohibition on antipersonnel mines should not prejudice a state’s
legitimate right of
self-defense.[1] Officials also
cite a lack of viable alternatives to defend Iran's
borders.[2] Included in almost
every statement made by Iranian officials on the mine issue is a plea for the
transfer of mine clearance technology and international cooperation. Iranian
officials have not made any public statements regarding the mine ban issue in
1999 or 2000.
Iran was one of twenty nations to abstain on the vote on UN General Assembly
Resolution 54/54B in support of the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 December 1999, as it
had on similar resolutions in 1997 and 1998. Iranian diplomats offered no
explanation of these votes at the UN. Iran did not participate in major
diplomatic meetings on landmines in 1999 or 2000. Iran is not a party to the
Convention on Conventional Weapons. Iran is a member of the Conference on
Disarmament and in 1998 urged others to negotiate prohibitions on landmines
within its framework.[3]
Production, Stockpiling, Transfer, Use
Iran has produced antipersonnel mines. This
includes the YM-I (a copy of the Italian TS-50) and the Mk. 4 (similar to the
Egyptian T/78 and Israeli No. 4)
mines.[4] It is not known
whether Iran is currently producing antipersonnel mines, but it has no policy or
formal restrictions against production.
No information is available concerning types, quantities, or location of
Iran’s AP mine stockpile. Between 1969 and 1979, Iran imported more than
2.5 million AP mines from the U.S. of the M2, M14, M16/M16A1 varieties.
Iran declared a moratorium on the export of antipersonnel mines in 1997, but
it is not known if this moratorium is still in
effect.[5] Four types of
Iranian mines have been found in Afghanistan. Additionally, Human Rights Watch
reported in 1998 that Iranian Mk. 4 AP mines have been found in the Ugandan
border region of Sudan.
There have been no reports concerning the use of antipersonnel mines by Iran
recently.
The Landmine Problem
Government officials claim that during the
Iran-Iraq War, over 16 million landmines were planted in Iran covering over 4
million hectares. The number of mines Iran has emplaced on its own borders for
security purposes or to deter narcotics trafficking is not known. It is not
known if a nationwide survey on mine and UXO contamination has been conducted by
the government.
Mine Action
Responsibility for mine action rests with the
Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Military Services,
Mostazafan and Janbazan Foundation (MJF), Emam Emdad Committee, and the United
Nations. Apparently the activities of these organizations are not well
coordinated. According to the Ministry of the Interior’s 5-year plan, a
budget of $183 million has been estimated to demine 2,796,000 hectares in 1,911
different areas.[6]
A UNDP mine action program for western Iran is currently on-hold pending
Iranian Government approval and funding. Apparently, the reason for the delay
is not related to mine action, but rather
budgetary.[7]
Mine Clearance
Separate organizations in Iran may undertake mine
clearance activities. For example, the Armed Forces General Headquarters has
demined several areas of the western border region. Estimates of mines and
“explosive devices” removed have ranged from 200,000 in 1996 to 6.2
million in 1998.
To date, with the cooperation of the Ministry of the Interior, 104,000
hectares have been demined and the demining of an additional 2,900,000 hectares
is currently under
consideration.[8]
The military has apparently marked mine-affected areas. Demining in Iran is
accomplished manually and also by mechanical methods. Iran has indigenously
produced a mechanical clearance vehicle named the Taftan-1. This unmanned,
remotely operated vehicle is reported to be able to withstand the impact of
mines weighing up to 10
kilograms.[9]
Mine Awareness
Apparently, there are currently no mine awareness
programs in Iran. However, the “First International Conference on Land
Mine Victim Assistance during Peace Period” was held in Tehran on 15-16
February 2000. It was organized by the High Center of Research and Informatics
(HCRI), which is affiliated with the Mostazafan and Janbazan Foundation, with
the cooperation of the Trauma Care Foundation (Norway) and World Health
Organization. Different organizations, ministries, members of the Armed Forces
as well as some local landmine injured people participated in the conference.
This was the first known conference about the landmine problem in Iran and may
in the future lead to increased mine awareness and victim assistance efforts in
Iran.
Landmine Casualties
The exact number of people who have been killed or
injured by AP mines in Iran is not available. However, in January 2000 a survey
was conducted in Eylam, a western province of Iran, by HCRI with the purpose of
preparing a statistical evaluation of civilian mine victims. According to this
survey, Eylam, with the population of about 500,000, and having the longest
common border with Iraq (about 250 km) has the most infected landmine areas in
comparison with other western provinces. Mehran, Dehloran and Moosian are the
most infected areas/towns in this province. The majority of fatalities were
people under the age of twenty (ninety-eight deaths). Another group at high
risk is shepherds whose lifestyle makes them extremely vulnerable. The
following table shows the range of landmine casualties during the past 10 years
in Eylam province:[10]
Year
Deaths
Injuries
1989
25
24
1990
40
61
1991
57
68
1992
31
84
1993
23
55
1994
32
69
1995
49
82
1996
63
72
1997
28
62
1998
33
77
1999
13
34
Total
394
688
Victim Assistance
Little is known about programs in Iran to care for
landmine victims and raise awareness of landmines. HCRI is planning to
undertake a pilot study of the assistance and awareness programs for victims and
affected communities, especially in Eylam province. HCRI (Mostazafan and
Janbazan Foundation) has presented a project on mine victim assistance to the
Iranian Ministry of Health and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
[1] Statement by S.M.H. Adeli, Ambassador
to Canada, Ottawa, 4 December 1997. [2]
Statement by Ambassador Sirous Nasseri, Head of Delegation to the CCW Review
Conference, Vienna, 27 September
1995. [3] Statement by Ambassador Mehdi
Danesh Yazdi, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic or Iran to
the UN, 17 November 1998. [4]
Jane’s Mines and Mine Clearance, 1999-2000, online update, 18 November
1999. [5] Statement by Ambassador Mehdi
Danesh Yazdi to the UN, 17 November
1998. [6] Budget figure converted at
official rates; Iranian Ministry of the Interior, 5 Year Plan, April
2000. [7] UNDP, “Mine Action
Updates Country and Global Programmes,” 17 November
1999. [8] Information provided to
Landmine Monitor by the Khatamolanbia Military Demining Department, April,
2000. [9] “Iran Says Will Produce
Own Mine-Clearing Vehicle,” Reuters, 28 July
1999. [10] HCRI Survey of Mine Victims
in Elyam Province. The data for 1999 is only through October.
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