UN humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien today concluded a two-day visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran where he met with senior officials in Tehran including Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Sadegh Hossein Jaberi Ansari; His Excellency Dr. Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, Minister of Interior; Special Advisor to the Supreme Leader Dr. Ali Akbar Velayati; His Excellency Mr. Esmail Najjar, Head of the National Disaster Management Organization; Dr. Amir Mohsen Ziaie, President of the Iranian Red Crescent Society; General Gholamreza Jalali, Head of the Passive Defense Organization; and humanitarian partners.  
 “It was an excellent opportunity to discuss Iran’s considerable experience and expertise in disaster management and humanitarian response, from which we have much to learn,” said Mr. O’Brien at the end of his first visit to Iran as UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.
During his visit, Mr. O’Brien also discussed humanitarian issues and concerns in Iraq, Syria and Yemen and urged the Iranian Government to use its political influence to help the humanitarian community’s principled assistance and protection to all people in need.
“Conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Iraq continue to affect the whole region with millions of people displaced at home and fleeing across borders to safety in neighboring countries. Iran has a very important role to play in helping us gain better access for humanitarian organizations in the region and elsewhere,” Mr. O’Brien said.
Mr. O’Brien emphasized on Iran’s role in the management of Humanitarian crisis saying “Iran has key role in getting access to Humanitarian organizations and their services”.
Asked about the role of the media in solving humanitarian crisis Mr. O’Brien said”  The Media has a great and very important role and responsibility in this issue. Where ever there is a conflict or war, different factions are impartial and weaken the human rights basis. They are always acting as they support a particular group. But the media can operate independently reporting the crisis. The media should support any faction within the conflict”.
Mr. O’Brien emphasized that “in the past more 80 percent of all humanitarian crisis was nature made but that it is the human being who create more than 80 percent of all crisis”.
“What is important is that media report the realities and they can be sure that the UN does not have any tendency to change the truth. It is important for us that the media help us and try to promote the meaning of humanity. Media must be supporting civilians when it comes to the war crisis. Civilians have not any role in creating the war crisis and they are always the victims of war”.
The UN humanitarian chief pointed to various natural disasters with devastating effects that occur in the region, adding “Iran has a well-developed system for disaster preparedness and response and often generously shares its capacity and expertise when responding to emergencies in other countries.”
He went on to add, “I have encouraged the Iranian authorities to become members of the International Search and Rescue and UN Disaster and Assessment teams, which would be of mutual benefit for the international community and for Iran.”
He further highlighted the importance of ‘neutrality’, ‘impartiality’, and ‘independence’ of humanitarian work in the UN.
O’Brien pointed to his meeting with Amir Mohsen Ziaie, President of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, saying ‘he is doing tremendous work to support emergency and relief operations in Iran and in the region.”
“In my meeting with General Gholamreza Jalali, Head of the Passive Defense Organization, we discussed concrete steps for cooperation on emergency preparedness,” he added.
“I look forward to working more closely with our Iranian partners to further improve the international humanitarian system, so we can respond effectively, efficiently, and fast to crises now and in the future,” he concluded.