Evolution of Rules for Environmental Impact Assessment of projects in Iran

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process to evaluate the impacts of a project on environmentalbefore and during implementation. EIA is a bridge between development and environment that result in sustainable development. The study aim is EIA law evolution in relation with developing projects and to find EIA places in Iranian law. By searching in Iran’s development plan, approved rules and regulations, Islamic Republic of Iran Supreme Leader notifies and reports of performed EIA for projects until 2016 the required data have been got and analyzed using a descriptive-analyticalstudy.Obtained results presented by suitable tables and figures. Obtained results showed there are only relevant13 rule/regulation among all present rules/regulations, 6 plans and 7 codes in penal laws against environmental crimes. There is one supreme leader notification among 33 notifies, which it is general environment policies. The maximum and minimum number EIA reports there were for Khozestan and Alborz provinces, respectively. The most EIA report there was for dam and network projects. The maximum number of EIA report has been recorded for 2012. Due to Iran-Iraq war and the subsequent reconstruction era, environment has been neglected for more than 14 years. Although some rules/regulations have been legislated to prevent environmental impacts of projects, but there were not efficient due to insufficient judicial supplement. It seems the environmental will be improved, in the not-too-distant future, as a result of general environment policies notified by Ayatollah Khamenei, the Islamic Republic of Iran Supreme Leader.