A senior Iranian environment official has said Iran will be taking part in the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali on December 3-14.

"This conference looks at the progress various countries have made concerning climate change and initiatives for preventing the continuing process of global warming," Head of the Air Pollution Office of Iran's Department of Environment, Mohammad-Reza Monazzam told reporters on Wednesday.

Developed countries are responsible for climate change that is affecting developing states and the world, said Monazzam. "So we must defend our rights and those of other developing countries," he said, adding that environmental experts must predict how climate change will affect the country.

Monazzam said an Iranian delegation made up of officials from the EPO and the Ministries of Oil, Agriculture and Energy will be taking part in the conference. He mentioned that the United States and Australia, which have not signed the convention yet, are expected to attend the conference with a softer approach.

MJ/JG/BGH