ALWAGHT- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called for stronger international action to protect the environment during armed conflicts, warning against using environmental issues as instruments of political pressure or sacrificing them for short-term economic and military interests.
Speaking at the International Conference on “Ecocide, A Silent War Crime” in Tehran on Sunday, October 11, he described large-scale environmental destruction as a serious threat to human health, food security, international peace, and future generations.
Araghchi said warfare can cause lasting damage to water and soil resources, air quality, forests, agricultural land, energy infrastructure, and biodiversity. Citing conflicts in Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza, he pointed to attacks on energy facilities, water and sewage treatment plants, farmland, and coastal areas, warning that pollution and hazardous remnants of war can affect communities for years or decades.
He stressed that international law and humanitarian law must address both the immediate and long-term environmental consequences of military actions. Araghchi also called on all countries to meet their international obligations, cautioning against double standards in environmental protection. He said unilateral sanctions and restrictions that prevent countries from accessing essential environmental technologies, equipment, and financial resources should also be assessed under international law.
Araghchi said Iran was prepared to cooperate with other countries to prevent widespread environmental destruction, strengthen regional collaboration, and ensure accountability for those responsible. He urged collective action to prevent perpetrators from escaping responsibility, emphasizing that protecting nature is essential to safeguarding humanity’s future.
