MP Pezeshkian says war causes long-lasting global environmental damage and needs international remedies

What happened: Masoud Pezeshkian said war causes environmental damage that requires international solutions and can persist for years or generations. He was quoted by IRNA stating that war harms not only people and economic infrastructure but also nature: it burns forests, destroys wetlands, contaminates soil, threatens water resources, destroys habitats, displaces animal species, and introduces chemicals and heavy metals into natural cycles. (Source: IRNA (Telegram))

Additional statement and attribution: Pezeshkian told Young Journalists Club (YJC) that the environmental effects of war can remain for years after hostilities end and called recent events in the region “ecocide” or destruction of nature that should be condemned. He said the international community now recognizes that environmental destruction in armed conflict is not a minor side effect, but directly affects the security and welfare of future generations. He blamed what he called “aggressive war” by the United States and Israel in the region for damage to industrial and energy facilities, fires, pollutant releases, and soil and water contamination that threaten ecosystems and have destroyed protective infrastructure built over years to conserve biodiversity. (Source: YJC (Telegram))

Context: The remarks were made at the summit of parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. (Source: Hamshahri newspaper)

Initial synthesis; final edit pending