In a letter for UN Secretary-General António Guterres and President of the UN Security Council Michael G. Waltz on March 27, Saeed Iravani transmitted a letter from Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad about the catastrophic environmental, public health, food security, and cultural heritage impacts of the attacks by the Israeli regime and the United States on the oil reservoirs of Iran.
What follows is the text of the letter:
In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
Excellency,
Further to our letters dated 9 and 18 March 2026 regarding the catastrophic environmental, public health, food security, and cultural heritage impacts of the attacks by the Israeli regime and the United States on the oil reservoirs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I have the honor to transmit herewith, as an attachment, a letter dated 24 March 2026 from H.E. Mr. Mohsen Paknejad, Minister of Petroleum of the Islamic Republic of Iran, addressed to the Secretary-General, concerning these grave developments.
As elaborated in the attached communication, the Israeli regime and the United States, in continuation of their hostile policies and military aggression, carried out attacks on 7 and 18 March 2026 against Iran's critical oil depots, storage facilities, and gas refineries. These attacks represent a serious escalation, targeting Iran's energy security and economic stability, with far-reaching consequences for civilian infrastructure and essential services. They have not only resulted in the destruction of parts of Iran's oil and gas infrastructure and damage to its energy network, but have also caused catastrophic human and environmental consequences.
The deliberate attack on fuel reservoirs constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law and multilateral environmental obligations, and meets the criteria of an environmental crime, including ecocide. Such acts engage the international responsibility of the Israeli regime and the United States as perpetrators of these crimes and require full accountability within the relevant international fora, including the obligation to provide full reparation for all material and moral damage inflicted.
In this context, I respectfully urge the Secretary-General to condemn these unlawful actions in the strongest and most unequivocal terms and to call upon the international community to take immediate and effective measures to ensure accountability and prevent the recurrence of such grave violations.
I should be grateful if you would have the present letter and its attachment circulated as an official document of the Security Council.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration
Attachment:
In the Name of God
H.E. Mr. Antonio Guterres Secretary-General of the United Nations
Dear Sir,
The Zionist regime and the United States, in continuation of their hostile policies and military aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran and its vital civilian infrastructure, committed other crimes twice, once on 7 March 2026 and again on 18 March 2026. These attacks, which transcend a limited military operation and represent the beginning of a full-scale war against Iran's energy security and economy, targeted oil depots and storage facilities in Tehran, and also gas refineries of the South Pars region in the northern Persian Gulf.
Unfortunately, these attacks were carried out using the airspace and territory of certain neighboring countries, highlighting the complex security dimensions of this aggression and the necessity for regional governments to assume responsibility for incursions undertook from within their land or airspace.
These attacks not only resulted in the destruction of a portion of equipment and facilities of Iran's oil and gas industries and caused damages on the Iran's energy network, but also brought about the following catastrophic human and environmental consequences:
Environmental Catastrophe: The massive fires caused by missile strikes on oil and gas facilities and refineries led to the release of enormous volumes of greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants into the region. This severe air pollution poses a serious threat to the health of local residents and the fragile Persian Gulf ecosystem.
Energy Crisis and Disruption of Daily Life: Disruptions in the supply chain of natural gas and other energy carriers have affected the lives of millions of Iranian civilians and disrupted the operations of thousands of industrial and production units.
Your Excellency,
The Islamic Republic of Iran has never initiated any aggression, nor does it seek to escalate tensions in the region. However, the complicity and inaction of certain regional countries regarding the use of their airspace by the aggressors, as well as the regrettable silence of international bodies in condemning these crimes, have emboldened the Zionist regime and the United States to continue their criminal activities on a broader scale, believing themselves immune from legal and international consequences.
Undoubtedly, your role as the Secretary-General of the United Nations can be decisive and effective in halting these crimes. It is expected that the United Nations, as the highest international body responsible for maintaining peace and security, will adopt a firm and explicit position in condemning this aggression and take effective measures to immediately halt the attacks, compensate for the damages incurred, and deter the recurrence of such tragedies. Your appropriate and impartial intervention in this critical situation will not only contribute to restoring peace and security in the region and the world but will also constitute an effective step in rebuilding the international community's trust in this organization and its elevated role in safeguarding the highest shared human values.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my consideration.
Mohsen Paknejad