MP Pezeshkian says war’s environmental damage threatens future generations

What happened: Masoud Pezeshkian warned that environmental damage from war can persist for years after hostilities end and must be condemned as 'ecocide.'

Attribution and details: Pezeshkian told TejaratNews that the international community now understands that environmental destruction in armed conflict is not a side effect but directly affects the security and welfare of future generations. He said recent wars, which he described as initiated by the United States and Israel in the region, have damaged industrial and energy facilities, caused fires, released pollutants, and contaminated soil and water, threatening natural ecosystems and destroying conservation infrastructure built over years.

Additional reporting: Farhikhtegan newspaper similarly wrote that war does more than harm people and infrastructure: it destroys forests, wetlands and water resources, pollutes soil, eradicates habitats, displaces animal species, and introduces chemicals and heavy metals into natural cycles. That report said such damages can last for years and reiterated that the international community recognizes environmental harm during armed conflict as a direct threat to future security and welfare.