LM Report 2006

Iran

Key developments since May 2005: In 2005, UNDP revised its proposal for assistance to mine action, and awaited response from Iran’s mine action center as of May 2006. In January 2006, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining signed an agreement to provide mine action training. Iran and Iraq signed a memorandum of understanding in December 2005 to clear landmines from their border. A mine risk education committee was formed in December 2005, which developed a strategy and action plan. At least 109 new mine/UXO casualties were recorded in 2005.

Mine Ban Policy

The Islamic Republic of Iran has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty. In a February 2006 letter to Landmine Monitor, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “Due to our expansive borders and problems resulting from narcotics and terrorist trafficking, our defense institutions are considering the use of landmines as a defensive mechanism.”^[1] In August 2005, the Director of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mine Action Center (IRMAC) stated that Iran is against the use of landmines, but war in and occupation of two countries bordering Iran are not conducive to Iran joining the Mine Ban Treaty.^[2] Previously, government representatives have told Landmine Monitor that they believe if landmines were removed from the country’s borders, more Iranian soldiers would be killed while protecting the borders and drug trafficking would increase dramatically. They have also stated that the cost of Iran joining the Mine Ban Treaty would be “enormous.”^[3]

Iran has abstained from voting on every annual UN General Assembly resolution supporting the Mine Ban Treaty since 1997, including UNGA Resolution 60/80 on 8 December 2005. Iran has never participated as an observer in the annual meetings of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty, and has not attended meetings of the intersessional Standing Committees in Geneva, except in May 2001.

Iran is not party to Convention on Conventional Weapons, but in February 2006 told Landmine Monitor it has “announced its support for the regulations stipulated in the second protocol of this convention regarding the method of utilizing antipersonnel landmines.”^[4]

The Iranian recipient of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize, Shirin Ebadi, launched the Mine Clearing Collaboration Campaign at the First Review Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty in Nairobi, Kenya in November-December 2004.^[5] The organization’s goals are to aid demining, mine risk education and victim assistance in mine-affected regions of Iran, and to raise the profile of the mine ban campaign. On 12 March 2006, the campaign held its first public awareness event in Tehran; at least 100 people attended.^[6] In April 2006, Shirin Ebadi called on Iran to join the Mine Ban Treaty.^[7]

Production, Stockpiling, Use, Transfer

The Director of IRMAC told Landmine Monitor in August 2005 that Iran neither uses nor produces landmines.^[8] He did not clarify when Iran stopped using and producing mines, or if there is a formal policy or law prohibiting use and production.^[9] In September 2002, the Ministry of Defense declared in a letter to Landmine Monitor, “The Islamic Republic of Iran, since the termination of its war [1988], has not produced anti-personnel mines.”^[10] Iran is thought to have a large stockpile of antipersonnel mines, but no official information is available on its size and composition.

Iran exported a significant number of antipersonnel mines in the past. An export moratorium was instituted in 1997, but it is not known if it is still formally in effect. In its February 2006 letter to Landmine Monitor, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states, “It has been several years since Iran voluntarily halted export of anti-personnel mines.”^[11]

There is evidence that Iran produced and exported antipersonnel mines at least as recently as 2000, and perhaps later. Landmine Monitor received information that mine clearance organizations in Afghanistan were removing and destroying many hundreds of Iranian YM-I and YM-I-B antipersonnel mines, date stamped 1999 and 2000, from abandoned Northern Alliance front lines.^[12]

Iran is believed to maintain minefields along its borders with Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, although Landmine Monitor has not recorded any reports of new mine-laying by Iran from 1999 to 2006. In a meeting with Landmine Monitor in September 2005, the Director of IRMAC stated that it is government policy not to lay any new mines inside Iran.^[13]

Landmine and ERW Problem

Landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) in Iran, especially unexploded ordnance (UXO), are a legacy of the 1980-1988 conflict with Iraq. Contamination affects particularly the western and southwestern part of Iran, stretching from Abadan on the Persian Gulf to the Turkish border some 600 kilometers north. Mine/UXO contamination particularly affects the provinces of Kurdistan, Western Azerbaijan, Khuzestan, Kermanshah and Ilam.^[14] A wide variety of ground types are affected, including swamps, wetlands, marshes, deserts, fertile agricultural land and mountain ranges. Munitions found include antipersonnel and antivehicle mines, grenades, mortars, shells, bombs and munitions. Chemical weapons were also used, and their remnants can still be found in some areas.^[15]

Government officials have claimed that Iraq planted some 12 to 16 million landmines in Iran during the 1980s, contaminating an area of over 42,000 square kilometers.^[16] According to the Director of IRMAC, the estimate was reduced to 24,000 square kilometers following manual and mechanical clearance of 18,000 square kilometers between 1988 and 2003. He stated that it will take five to ten years to clear all the remaining mines, at a cost of about IRR4,000 billion (some US$434 million).^[17]

The minefields along the border with Iraq block access to agricultural land, infrastructure and social services. Refugees, nomads and small communities reside in the border area, placing them at risk from mines and UXO; herders and children are also said to be highly vulnerable.^[18]

The mine and UXO threat constitutes an obstacle to the safe return of refugees and internally displaced people throughout the country.^[19] Many refugees from the 1991 Gulf War and many Iranian Shiites have attempted to cross the mined borders to return home or to visit religious sites in Iraq. These attempts often result in casualties.^[20]

Mine and UXO contamination also compromises exploitation of oil fields and has affected historical sites and hindered archeological studies in southwest Iran. In April 2006, local media reported that the work of archeologists in the Kermanshah province was hindered by the presence of mines.^[21]

Mine Action Program

National Mine Action Authority: The National Mine Action Council (NMAC) was established in 2003 by the government (the legislative basis is not known). Its membership includes the ministries of interior, foreign affairs, health and medical training, the provincial governors general of the five mine-affected border provinces, the joint chief of command for armed forces, IRMAC, national mine action NGOs and operational demining units belonging to Iran’s armed forces. NMAC is chaired by the Minister of Defense and is responsible for formulating policies, coordinating mine action and drafting operational protocols for demining units as well as mobilizing resources and procuring equipment.^[22]

National Mine Action Center: NMAC created the Islamic Republic of Iran Mine Action Center in 2003 to plan, coordinate and implement mine action. According to IRMAC’s directorin 2005, all organizations involved in demining must cooperate and collaborate with IRMAC. The goals of the organization are to “be mine safe fast and to support people who were injured by mines and UXO and increase education and awareness about mines.”^[23] Since January 2006, changes have been implemented within the management of IRMAC. As of May 2006, it was believed that all the senior managers had been replaced.^[24]

The Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) has not been installed in Iran, due to US economic sanctions.^[25] IRMAC claims that this has been slowing down the pace of demining in Iran.^[26]

Landmine Monitor is not aware of any specific legislation on mine action. In 2005, IRMAC reported having developed national mine action standards based on the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS), adapting them to the cultural and geographic characteristics of Iran. IMAS were translated into Persian.^[27] However, it is unclear whether the standards are applied to all organizations involved in demining in Iran.

Strategic Planning and Progress

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Iranian government signed an agreement in 2002 to implement a national mine action program to support Iran in developing its national capacity to plan, implement, coordinate and monitor mine action. The UNDP strategy in Iran aimed at assisting the government in developing a national mine action strategy and action plan.^[28] In 2006, the government of Iran, with UNDP assistance, submitted projects totaling $31.8 million to the Mine Action Portfolio for the mine action program; activities included landmine impact and technical surveys, clearance, capacity-building of IRMAC, training of mine detecting dogs, training in monitoring and evaluation, mine risk education and victim assistance.^[29] As of May 2006, no funds had been received for these projects.^[30]

Since UNDP and Iran signed the agreement in 2002, little progress has been made in implementing the program, except for the short-term provision of a technical advisor and the participation of IRMAC’s director in the senior mine action manager’s course at James Madison University in the United States in September 2005. The UNDP program has been described as “unproductive, obsolete and not enough directed to Iran’s capacity and needs.”^[31] IRMAC itself has acknowledged that there have been no significant results from the program.^[32] Following UNDP assessment missions in March 2005 and January 2006, a proposal was drafted, which reportedly included capacity development for international relations, access to better equipment and to IMSMA. As of May 2006, the project proposal was being reviewed by IRMAC.^[33]

In April 2006, IRMAC reported that the new government had made mine action a top priority. The President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, reportedly visited mine-contaminated areas in Ilam province at the start of 2006 and issued an order for the demining of all mine/UXO-affected regions in the country. He nominated the Minister of Defense as his special representative for mine action. In March 2006, IRMAC prepared a Comprehensive Plan for Clearance that was submitted to the president for approval.^[34]

In August 2005, the Director of IRMAC told Landmine Monitor that a 10-year plan to eliminate all landmines in Iran by 2015 had been developed. According to the plan, Kurdistan was to be completely cleared by March 2006, and Western Azerbaijan province was to be demined by March 2007.^[35] Progress on the implementation of that plan has not been communicated to Landmine Monitor.

According to IRMAC, priorities for demining are defined according to the impact on the population; mine-affected areas that are usually prioritized are villages, paths and roads, and development areas. Priorities are determined by the Ministry of Interior, which then communicates them to IRMAC for implementation.^[36] The southwestern region contains some of the world’s richest oil and gas fields. Therefore, the removal of mines and munitions to allow oil and gas exploration is one of Iran’s priorities.^[37] Demining along the border with Iraq is also prioritized as part of a national security policy to allow greater control of Iran’s side of the border.

The vast majority of clearance programs support the work of various ministries and the work of national and international organizations involved in oil and gas exploration. A sizeable portion of work has been undertaken by the army and the Revolutionary Guard, and in the last few years by MAI, an Iranian commercial company.^[38]

The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) visited Iran in January 2006. During that visit, GICHD and IRMAC signed a memorandum of cooperation that included training on a number of mine action topics; these activities were delayed by management changes within IRMAC in 2006. GICHD also approved the translation into Farsi of three GICHD publications; the documents were due to be printed in mid-2006.^[39]

According to media reports, in July 2005 Iran’s Defense Minister and Iraq’s Foreign Minister agreed to “work together in the field of defense” and “decided to form committees to follow up on the issues of missing in action and zones planted with landmines.”^[40] In a follow-up meeting on 12 December 2005, Iran and Iraq signed a memorandum of understanding to remove landmines from both sides of the Iran-Iraq border. It included:

• provision by both countries of documentation and maps of contaminated areas;
• creation of a bilateral committee to follow-up on demining activities;
• involvement by both countries of national and international capacities to implement clearance activities; and,
• clearance and opening of border crossing areas.^[41]

The Ministry of Defense reportedly deals with the mine problem from a humanitarian perspective, rather than a purely military-security perspective.^[42] In September 2005, IRMAC reported its plans to increase national clearance capacity, encouraging commercial companies and NGOs to undertake mine action. According to IRMAC, as of August 2005, 17 demining organizations had been created; six had been involved in mine action in 2004. Activities included survey, research, clearance and supervising clearance undertaken by the army.^[43]

IRMAC promotes self-sufficiency in production of demining-related material and technology. Shahid Karimi Industries, affiliated with the Defense Industries Organization, produces personal protective equipment, mine flails, mine prodders and demining machines (Taftan I and Taftan II). In August 2005, 11 Taftan II machines were in use by demining operators and a further 10 were being tested before delivery.^[44]

IRMAC reported that, for the period March 2005 through March 2006, Iran budgeted mine action expenditure of IRR100 billion (some $12 million). The same amount was budgeted for the previous 12 month period, of which IRR 80 billion rials (approximately $8.7 million) was actually spent.^[45] No further information on budget and expenditure was provided to Landmine Monitor.

Demining

Mine/UXO clearance is conducted by the Iranian Army Engineer Units of the Ministry of Defense (25 battalions were responsible for mine clearance as of September 2005), the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), local NGOs and commercial national or international companies (including MAI, Basigh, Immen Sazan Omran Pars Int. Co., ENDICO, Andisheh and Omran Mohit Co.).^[46]

Those companies are believed to be involved in demining, mine risk education and research and development.

The Iranian commercial company MAI considers itself the largest totally independent civilian organization authorized and qualified to undertake mine action activities in Iran.^[47] It conducts seismic tasks as well as mine and UXO clearance around wellheads, pipelines, oil and gas gathering centers and construction sites, technical surveys, threat assessments, risk analysis, and quality assurance and control.^[48]

Identification and Fencing/Marking of Mined Areas

Landmine Monitor has received no information on mine and ERW survey or assessment being conducted during the reporting period, nor of marking or fencing activities being undertaken.

Mine and ERW Clearance

IRMAC data regarding mine clearance undertaken between March 2005 and March 2006 was not made available to Landmine Monitor. Previously, IRMAC had reported that between March 2004 and March 2005, some 528 square kilometers were cleared, with 252,383 antipersonnel mines, 37,522 antivehicle mines and 1,478,508 UXO destroyed.^[49] Mine and battle area clearance are conducted using manual and mechanical assets.

Norwegian People’s Aid worked with the Norsk Hydro oil company providing advice on survey and mine risk education until 31 January 2006, and then left the country.^[50]

An oil development project started in 2004, near Ahwaz, involved clearance of large quantities of landmines dating from the Iran-Iraq wars in the Azadegan minefields.^[51] During Phase 1, starting in 2004, battle area clearance was conducted by MAI on five square kilometers of contaminated land, and on 48 kilometers of routes for oil, water and gas pipelines.^[52]

Phase 2 of the Azadegan project, which began in 2005, involved the clearance of mines and UXO affecting three oil-well sites and access routes; mine clearance was to be carried out over one square kilometer and battle area clearance over 16.6 square kilometers. The contract was initially awarded to the army for the minefield clearance and to Imman Sazan Omran Pars for the battle area clearance. Both, however, failed the test carried out by the international supervisory company. MAI was involved in the second round of bidding for Phase 2 of the project.^[53]

Between April 2005 and April 2006, MAI reports the battle area clearance of 12,881,855 square meters in various projects in Iran, including the Azadegan project; 174 UXO were found and destroyed.^[54]

Between March 2004 and August 2005, 19 deminers were reported to have been killed and 30 injured during demining operations.^[55] The number of demining accidents since that date has not been provided to Landmine Monitor. However, the IRMAC website reported three deminers injured in Khosravi on 27 August; earlier in 2005, the head of the demining unit was killed during a clearance operation.^[56] In November, one deminer was injured in Shalamcheheh and another deminer was killed in Yebiis region during clearance activities.^[57]

Mine Risk Education

Mine risk education (MRE) in Iran is coordinated by IRMAC. In December 2005, IRMAC established an MRE committee that includes representatives of the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Education, Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Department of Behzisti (part of the newly established Ministry of Welfare), and Basij Resistant Forces. IRMAC was in the process of developing national MRE standards based on IMAS.

The MRE committee sponsored the production of an educational film to offer awareness to people who travel to the contaminated areas either as individuals or as group tours on holidays. Two privately-produced Iranian movies produced in 2005 dealt with the landmine problem.^[58]

In May 2006, the committee developed an MRE strategy and action plan addressing implementation, evaluation and improvement of MRE programs. Training of trainers was planned for teachers at schools for nomads; data on schools in contaminated areas had been collected.^[59]

Organizations involved in MRE during 2005-2006 included the IRCS with support from the ICRC,^[60] and the Department of Behzisti and Ministry of Education. IRMAC promotes the creation of regional MRE NGOs in affected communities; as of August 2005, there were four such organizations in Kermanshah, Ilam and al-Ahwaz provinces, dealing with MRE and victim assistance.^[61]

The Department of Behzisti in Tehran created a small MRE section in 2004, which planned to develop an MRE strategy for all mine-affected provinces in 2005-2006.^[62] The Department of Behzisti in Kurdistan province continued its MRE program in schools and nurseries during 2005. A new MRE video was produced in Kurdish with Persian subtitles. It was planned that, in 2006, a new teaching schedule would ensure that all children receive MRE. In Kurdistan province, the department also focused on the wider public; there are about 111,000 farmers and herders in the mine-affected regions. To supplement existing MRE booklets, it cooperated with the Ministry of Agriculture to offer training sessions in the villages of the province. Approximately 700 local people were trained for two days; they will offer MRE lectures in the villages.^[63]

ICRC developed an instructional booklet and a poster-size educational set, which are used by the IRCS to teach community members about landmines.^[64] IRCS provided two days of mine/UXO risk education for 200 trainers, focusing on both MRE messages and presentation techniques and methodologies. Over 24,000 newly developed brochures were distributed to the population.^[65]

In September 2005, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) transferred its MRE activities for returnees to Afghanistan and Iraq to the IRCS.^[66] From December 2005, when a border crossing point at Dogharon opened, to 3 February 2006, 27,000 Afghan returnees were reached with basic MRE messages in 672 different sessions. There were 20 employees at this crossing point; each session lasted 45-60 minutes and included a presentation and a film about landmines. In March 2006, IRCS was awaiting UNHCR approval to provide MRE at a second crossing point, at Milak.^[67]

There were few returnees to Iraq in 2005, and none were registered in the first quarter of 2006. The costs of MRE activities at the two Iraq border crossing points are covered by UNHCR; the IRCS pays for MRE at the Afghan border points.^[68]

Landmine/UXO Casualties

IRMAC declined to provide any casualty data for 2005 to Landmine Monitor. However, Landmine Monitor identified at least 109 new mine/UXO casualties in 2005 in Iran, including 28 killed and 81 injured. The same number of casualties was identified by Landmine Monitor in 2004.^[69] The Iranian Mine Victim Resource Center (IMC) recorded 60 new mine/UXO casualties in the Mehran region of Ilam during 2005, including eight killed and 52 injured; 17 casualties were caused by antipersonnel mines, four by antivehicle landmines and 39 by UXO. The youngest casualty was seven years, the oldest was 65 years; 50 percent of casualties were under 21 years. All the casualties were male; eight were military personnel.^[70] Landmine Monitor analysis of media and updates of the IRMAC website found a further 49 new mine/UXO casualties (20 killed and 29 injured; at least 14 were children).^[71]

According to IRMAC, landmines were injuring an average of two people every day in early 2005; between August and December, the average decreased to about three people injured every two days.^[72] This would mean that approximately 550 people per year are injured or killed by landmines. Scores of shepherds and local residents living near the Iran-Iraq border are reportedly killed or injured by landmines every year.^[73]

Incidents reported in the media in 2005 included the following. On 17 April, five children were killed and 16 others, including eight children, injured when UXO used as a goalpost for a football game exploded; the artillery shell was from the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war.^[74] In August, a policeman was killed and five others were injured when their vehicle hit a landmine close to Sardasht.^[75] On 9 August, a teenage boy was killed by a landmine in the Kurdish area.^[76] On 30 September, three members of a family and their guide were killed by a landmine when they tried to cross the Khosravi border between Iran and Iraq at Qasr-e-Shirin.^[77] On 10 October, an Iranian border policeman at Qasr-e-Shirin was killed by a landmine; the report said there had been two other incidents in the previous three weeks, killing four and injuring three people.^[78]

The IRMAC website reported two shepherds killed in mine incidents in June 2005.^[79] On 24 October, a boy was killed by a landmine in Dehloran and on 25 December two shepherds were also killed by a mine in Dehloran.

Landmine Monitor has not been able to identify casualties in 2006. The IMC was not able to collect casualty data in the Mehran region of Ilam in 2006 due to a lack of capacity.^[80]

In 2005, the Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center at Tehran University of Medical Sciences and the Mostazafan and Janbazan Foundation reportedly created a data collection program on all civilian landmine victims and survivors from 1988 to the present. The purpose was to create a profile of the survivors and to determine where incidents happen most frequently and the most common type of injuries in order to prevent future incidents.^[81] The Sina center recorded over 7,000 landmine-related incidents in Iran since 1988; over 95 percent resulted in civilian casualties and 13-15 percent involved children. In Kermanshah province from 1994-2004, 990 people were killed and 1,270 seriously injured in landmine incidents.^[82]

According to Ministry of Interior data used by the IMC, between 1988 and 2002 there were 6,765 mine casualties in Iran, including 2,840 people killed and 3,925 injured. Casualties were recorded in Kurdistan (437 killed and 1,720 injured), Khuzestan (601 killed and 1,241 injured), Kermanshah (874 killed and 522 injured), Ilam (730 killed and 250 injured) and Western Azerbaijan (198 killed and 192 injured).^[83] Reportedly, more than 850 military deminers were killed in the same period.^[84]

Since the end of the Iraq war, many refugees and many Iranian Shiite Muslims have attempted to cross the heavily mined border region to return home or to visit religious sites in Karbala and Najjaf, Iraq. This led to a sharp increase in mine casualties in 2003.^[85] However, since 2004 and, especially since mid-2005, the number of pilgrims crossing the borders and the number of mine casualties decreased because of the security situation in Iraq.^[86] On 13 October 2005, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs “called on Iranian Pilgrims not to travel illegally to Iraq’s holy sites because of security concerns.”^[87]

Survivor Assistance

Two NGOs were reported to provide assistance to mine survivors in Iran in 2005. Mersad provided services to victims of war, including mine survivors and victims of chemical weapons. Another (un-named) organization working on promoting peace also provided services to war victims; both organizations operate only in Kermanshah province.^[88]

Military mine casualties receive medical care, rehabilitation, prosthetics and a pension. Civilian mine casualties are assigned to a private or public facility. In the mine-affected area of Mehran, the Mehran Emergency Center provides emergency care and has sufficient staff capacity, but lacks equipment; complex cases are referred to the Ilam General and Trauma Hospital where specialized staff and equipment are available.^[89] The Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center and Hospital in Tehran specializes in acute care and surgery, but also provides training courses, material and statistics on emergency care. In Kurdistan, the Sanandaj Besat hospital assists landmine casualties.

Until December 2005, Trauma Care Foundation (TCF) ran two training centers, in Tehran and Ilam, for instructors who, in turn, trained health personnel and villagers in basic and advanced emergency medical care for mine and other trauma injuries. TCF provided technical expertise and financial support to the IMC. Since 2004, the activities of TCF have decreased; at the end of 2005, it decided to close the program due to “unreliable medical data,” and withdrew its financial support from IMC.^[90]

By the end of 2005, IMC and TCF had trained 4,500 people in basic first aid and 109 people in advanced trauma support. IMC operates three first aid posts, which assisted 200 people (including 60 mine casualties) and facilitated emergency evacuation for 52 mine/UXO casualties in 2005.^[91] The loss of TCF funding is said to have “had a devastating effect” on the capability of IMC; operations ceased in Ilam as of March 2006. The center sought IRMAC and UNDP funding to restart the program in Ilam.^[92]

IMC aimed to provide pre-hospital medical care to landmine casualties to decrease the mortality rate and improve chances of recovery and rehabilitation. Reportedly, IMC was the only NGO with the medical capacity and technology to provide this kind of assistance.^[93]

In 2005, two members of IMC participated in the three-week intensive Epidemiology Trauma Workshop organized by TCF in Battambang, Cambodia. The workshop focused on methodology and research, including statistics and trauma research surveys, collecting casualty data, and quantitative and qualitative surveys.^[94]

The Iranian Red Crescent Society has physical rehabilitation centers in 13 provinces, physiotherapy centers in 26 provinces, with the latest opening in Bam on 29 December 2005, and medical centers in four provinces.^[95] In August 2005, the IRCS inaugurated the first Rescue and Relief School in Iran, dealing with emergency and disaster response.^[96] It also provided first aid courses to UNICEF staff, and has a community-based first aid program, which aims at establishing 380 relief bases by the end of 2006.^[97]

Other organizations providing assistance to people with disabilities include the Iman Khomeini Aid Committee, Social Security Organization and the Mostazafan and Janbazan Foundation (Foundation for the Disadvantaged).^[98]

IRMAC stated that it coordinates with other agencies to ensure that the needs of all mine survivors and/or their families are met, forming NGOs dealing with survivor assistance and MRE in the mine-affected communities. The Welfare Organization of Iran (Behzisti) in Tehran deals with all forms of social welfare.^[99]

In 2006, the UN Portfolio of Mine Action Projects contained one survivor assistance project, coordinated by IRMAC with technical advice from UNDP, which aimed to provide first aid classes, medical kits and training, emergency transport, rehabilitation and reintegration.^[100]

Disability Policy and Practice

In May 2004, the Majles (people’s council) reportedly passed a Comprehensive Law on the Rights of the Disabled; however, it is not known if it is implemented and it is unclear which government department is responsible for implementing and monitoring the law.^[101]

Issues relating to people with disabilities are coordinated by the State High Council for Coordination of Disabled Persons Affairs. All mine survivors and the families of those killed are entitled to monetary support from the government once the incident has been registered and confirmed. To qualify for benefits, incidents must be reported to the Provincial Governor’s Office for Social Welfare.^[102]

The 1959 Recommendation No. 99 on the Vocational Rehabilitation of the Disabled defines the framework for the protection of people with disabilities, but is limited to economic reintegration through government training programs, and equal treatment in employment.^[103]

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[1] Letter to Landmine Monitor (Human Rights Watch), File No: 322-1/153811, from Ali Jazini, Director, Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Embassy of Pakistan in Washington DC, 1 February 2006, transmitting the response of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to a letter sent on 7 September 2005.
[2] Interview with Hossein Vaziri, Director, IRMAC, Tehran, 28 August 2005. In July 2003, the government stated, “Landmines continue to be the sole effective means to ensure the minimum security requirement of borders in countries with long land borders.” Permanent Mission of Iran to the UN, “Explanation of Vote: The Islamic Republic of Iran: Draft Resolution L.43 on Ottawa Convention,” New York, 2 July 2003.
[3] Interview with Reza Najafi, Counselor, Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the UN, New York, 2 July 2003; interview with Mr. Shakarian, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tehran, 6 January 2004.
[4] Letter to Landmine Monitor (Human Rights Watch), File No: 322-1/153811, from Ali Jazini, Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Embassy of Pakistan in Washington DC, 1 February 2006, transmitting the response of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to a letter sent on 7 September 2005.
[5] The organization is also referred to as the Center for Cooperation for Mine Clearance.
[6] Information provided by Khalil Dokhanchi, University of Wisconsin-Superior, Department of Political Science, 12 March 2006.
[7] “Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi calls on Iran to join Ottawa Convention,” Turkish Weekly, 5 April 2006.
[8] Interview with Hossein Vaziri, IRMAC, Tehran, 28 August 2005.
[9] Iran has manufactured several types of antipersonnel mines, including the YM-I, Mk. 4 and a Claymore-type mine.
[10] Letter from the Permanent Mission of Iran to the UN to Mary Wareham, former Landmine Monitor Global Coordinator, 6 September 2002.
[11] Letter to Landmine Monitor (Human Rights Watch), File No: 322-1/153811, from Ali Jazini, Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Embassy of Pakistan in Washington DC, 1 February 2006, transmitting the response of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to a letter sent on 7 September 2005.
[12] Information provided to Landmine Monitor and ICBL by HALO Trust, Danish Demining Group and other demining groups operating in Afghanistan in 2002, 2003 and 2004. In addition, Iranian antipersonnel and antivehicle mines were part of a shipment seized by Israel in January 2002 off the coast of Gaza.
[13] Interview with Hossein Vaziri, IRMAC, Geneva, 22 September 2005.
[14] Interview with Hossein Vaziri, IRMAC, Geneva, 20 September 2005; see Landmine Monitor Report 2004, pp.986-987; Eddie Banks, “Demining in Iran,” Journal of Mine Action, Issue 9.2, February 2006.
[15] Eddie Banks, “Demining in Iran,” Journal of Mine Action, Issue 9.2, February 2006.
[16] “7,000 hectares of land cleared from Iraqi mines,” Islamic Republic News Agency (Khorramshahr), 25 March 2002. For details of mines used by Iran and Iraq, see Landmine Monitor Report 2001, p. 1005.
[17] Interview with Hossein Vaziri, IRMAC, Geneva, 20 September 2005. Exchange rate: US$1 = IRR9, 207, used throughout this report, www.xe.com, accessed 25 May 2006.
[18] UN, “2006 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, p. 189.
[19] Ibid.
[20] Megan Wertz, “Country Profiles: Islamic Republic of Iran,” Journal of Mine Action, Issue 9.2, February 2006.
[21] “International Oil Firms Eye Iran’s Azadegan,” Energy Compass, 31 October 2002; “Azadegan Holds Huge Oil Potential,” Petroleum Intelligence Weekly, 31 October 2002; “40 more ancient sites discovered in western Iran,” Mehrnews.com, Teheran, 8 April 2006.
[22] UN, “2006 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, p. 190; interviews with Hossein Vaziri, IRMAC, Tehran, 28 August 2005, and Geneva, 20 September 2005. Hossein Vaziri was also Head of the Engineering Department of the Defense and Armed Forces.
[23] Megan Wertz, “Country profiles: Islamic Republic of Iran,” Journal of Mine Action, Issue 9.2, February 2006.
[24] It is believed that Hossein Vaziri ceased to be Director of IRMAC at the start of 2006.
[25] Interview with Hossein Vaziri, IRMAC, Geneva, 20 September 2005; see also www.gichd.ch/imsma.
[26] Email from Col. Mahdi Fakhar Moghadam, International Affairs, IRMAC, 25 April 2006.
[27] Interview with Hossein Vaziri, IRMAC, Tehran, 28 August 2005.
[28] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 726.
[29] UN, “2006 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, pp. 190-199; email from Chip Bowness, Regional Mine Action Advisor for Asia, Mine Action Team, Bureau of Crisis Prevention and Recovery, UNDP, Bangkok, 10 July 2006.
[30] Email from Chip Bowness, UNDP, Bangkok, 28 May 2006.
[31] Telephone interview with Chip Bowness, UNDP, Bangkok, 16 May 2006.
[32] IRMAC response to Landmine Monitor draft report, email from Col. Mahdi Fakhar Moghadam, IRMAC, 25 April 2006.
[33] Telephone interview with Chip Bowness, UNDP, Bangkok, 16 May 2006, and email, 10 July 2006.
[34] IRMAC response to Landmine Monitor draft report, email from Col. Mahdi Fakhar Moghadam, IRMAC, 25 April 2006.
[35] Interview with Hossein Vaziri, IRMAC, Geneva, 20 September 2005.
[36] Ibid.
[37] Eddie Banks, “Demining in Iran,” Journal of Mine Action, Issue 9.2, February 2006.
[38] Ibid.
[39] “GICHD Delegation in Iran to Inspect Mine-Infested Areas,” Payvand, Iran News, 23 January 2005; email from Davide Orifici, Policy and External Relations, GICHD, Geneva, 16 May 2006.
[40] “Iran, Iraq join hands against terrorism,” World Peace Herald, 7 July 2005.
[41] “Iran, Iraq ink deal to remove landmines,” Payvand, Iran News, 12 December 2005; IRMAC, “Memorandum of Understanding between IRMAC and representatives from Iraq Defense Minister signed,” www.irmac.ir, accessed 10 April 2006.
[42] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 727.
[43] Interview with Hossein Vaziri, IRMAC, Tehran, 28 August 2005.
[44] Ibid.
[45] Emails from Col. Mahdi Fakhar Moghadam, IRMAC, 4 and 13 September 2005.
[46] Interview with Hossein Vaziri, IRMAC, Geneva, 20 September 2005.
[47] E&I–MAI, “Prospectus,” provided to Landmine Monitor on 18 May 2006. MAI is the demining branch of E&I–MKD Corp International-Iran, www.mkdcorp.com.
[48] Eddie Banks, “Demining in Iran,” Journal of Mine Action, Issue 9.2, February 2006.
[49] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 727.
[50] Email from Per Nergaard, Head, Mine Action Unit, Norwegian People’s Aid, 22 May 2006; see Landmine Monitor Report 2005, pp. 727-728.
[51] Paul Sampson, “Iran: Missed Opportunity,” Energy Compass, 8 July 2004.
[52] Eddie Banks, “Demining in Iran,” Journal of Mine Action, Issue 9.2, February 2006.
[53] Ibid; email from Niel Malan, Operations Manager, E&I–MAI, 22 May 2006.
[54] E&I–MAI, “Prospectus,” undated, provided to Landmine Monitor on 18 May 2006.
[55] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 727.
[56] IRMAC, “Mines are still taking the lives of our innocent countrymen;” “Field-Marshal Mosayeb Moradi Keshmarzi Joins his Almighty Creator,” www.irmac.ir, accessed 31 May 2006.
[57] IRMAC, “Manifest of courage and manliness;” “Sacrifice and manliness are praiseworthy,” www.irmac.ir, accessed 31 May 2006. For more details of deminer casualties, see Landmine/UXO Casualties section.
[58] IRMAC, www.irmac.ir.
[59] Ibid.
[60] ICRC, “Special Report, Mine Action 2005,” Geneva, May 2006, p. 16.
[61] Interview with Hossein Vaziri, IRMAC, Tehran, 28 August 2005.
[62] Interview with Dr. Yazdanparast, Department of Behzisti, Tehran, 18 August 2005.
[63] Interview with Dr. Shahla Farshidi, Department of Behzisti, Tehran, 15 March 2006.
[64] Interview with Nima Dadbin, Field Assistant, ICRC, Tehran, 13 March 2006.
[65] Interview with Ali Asghari, Director of General Training, Office of Relief and Rescue, IRCS, and Nima Dadbin, ICRC, Tehran, 18 August 2005; ICRC, “Special Report, Mine Action 2005,” Geneva, May 2006, p. 16.
[66] Interview with Ali Asghari, IRCS, and Nima Dadbin, ICRC, Tehran, 18 August 2005.
[67] Interview with Nima Dadbin, ICRC, Tehran, 13 March 2006.
[68] Ibid.
[69] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, pp. 729-730.
[70] Response to Landmine Monitor VA Questionnaire by Nahid Nafissi, Director, IMC, Tehran, 2 June 2006.
[71] Landmine Monitor media analysis covered 1 January-31 December 2005, and did not include Farsi language media.
[72] “Western Iran will be cleared of mines in next five years-Defence Minister,” BBC (Tehran), 1 December 2005; interview with Hossein Vaziri, IRMAC, Tehran, 28 August 2005.
[73] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 729.
[74] “Exploding goalpost kills five Iranian children,” Agence France-Presse (Tehran), 21 April 2005, www.hindustantimes.com/news, accessed 30 August 2005.
[75] “Iranian policeman killed by suspected Kurdish rebel landmine,” Agence France-Presse (Tehran), 18 August 2005.
[76] “Kurdish TV reports Iran planting mines near Iraqi border,” Kurdish Roj TV (Copenhagen), 9 August 2005.
[77] “Four Iranians get killed in Qasr-e-Shirin mine blast,” IRNA (Qasr-e-Shirin), 30 September 2005.
[78] “Landmine Kills Iranian Policeman,” IRNA (Qasr-e-Shirin), 10 October 2005.
[79] IRMAC, “Not War, but Murder,” www.irmac.ir, accessed 31 May 2006.
[80] Email from Nahid Nafissi, IMC, Tehran, 21 May 2006.
[81] Interview with Mohammad Reza Sorouch, Director, Janbazan Medical and Engineering Research Center, Tehran, 15 March 2006.
[82] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 731.
[83] “Information about Landmine Explosion Victims,” provided to Landmine Monitor by Nahid Nafissi, IMC, Tehran, 25 August 2005; www.landmineiran.org, accessed 30 August 2005.
[84] UN, “2006 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, 2006, p. 189.
[85] “Police Find Bodies of 6 Iranian Pilgrims,” IRNA (Ilam), 2 September 2004; see Landmine Monitor Report 2004, pp. 989-990.
[86] “Information about Landmine Explosion Victims,” provided to Landmine Monitor by Nahid Nafissi, IMC, Tehran, 25 August 2005.
[87] “Iran Warns Pilgrims Against Illegal Travel to Iraq.” IranMania, 13 October 2005.
[88] Interview with Afshin Moradi, President, Mersad, Tehran, 15 March 2006.
[89] Response to Landmine Monitor VA Questionnaire by Nahid Nafissi, IMC, 2 June 2006.
[90] Email from Hans Petter Husum, Head, TCF, Norway, 29 May 2006; interview with Nahid Nafissi and Masoud Saghafina, IMC, Tehran, 14 March 2006; see Landmine Monitor Report 2004, pp. 990-991.
[91] Response to Landmine Monitor VA Questionnaire by Nahid Nafissi, IMC, 2 June 2006.
[92] Interview with Nahid Nafissi and Masoud Saghafina, IMC, Tehran, 14 March 2006; email from Nahid Nafissi, IMC, 21 May 2006.
[93] Response to Landmine Monitor VA Questionnaire by Nahid Nafissi, IMC, 2 June 2006; see Landmine Monitor Report 2005, pp. 731-732.
[94] IRMAC, “Epidemiology Trauma Workshop in Cambodia,” www.irmac.ir, accessed 4 May 2006.
[95] IRCS, “Clinical and Rehabilitation Center of IRCS inaugurate[d] in Bam,” 31 December 2005, www.rcs.ir, accessed 4 May 2006; see Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 991.
[96] IRCS, “First Rescue and Relief School inaugurated by Dr. Ghosian, Secretary General and Director General of Isfahan province on 24/08/05.”
[97] IRCS, “Establishment of 380 Relief Bases,” 15 November 2006; “First Aid Course in UNICEF Tehran Office,” 5 February 2006.
[98] See Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 991.
[99] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 732.
[100] UN, “2006 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, 2006, p. 195.
[101] US Department of State, “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices-2005: Iran,” Washington DC, 8 March 2006.
[102] See Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 991.
[103] Center for International Rehabilitation, “Rights of People with Disabilities: Iran,” www.cirnetwork.org.