Addressing the international conference titled “Ecocide: The Silent War Crime”, held in Tehran on Sunday, Abbas Araqchi said environmental destruction during warfare is not merely an ecological concern but is directly linked to the right to life, public health, food security, international peace and security, and the rights of future generations.
The foreign minister stressed that the consequences of attacks on water, soil, air, forests, agricultural land and natural habitats could persist for years or decades after hostilities end.
Araqchi cited Gaza, Lebanon and Iran as examples of the devastating environmental consequences of military attacks. In Gaza, he pointed to the collapse of water and sewage networks, damage to waste-management systems, contamination of water and soil, coastal pollution, and the accumulation of rubble and potentially hazardous materials. He said the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has reported unprecedented environmental damage in the Palestinian territory, with consequences that could affect its population for decades. In Lebanon, he highlighted damage to forests and agricultural land, the destruction of millions of square meters of land and damage to tens of thousands of olive trees, as well as widespread coastal pollution following attacks on oil storage facilities.
The Iranian foreign minister also addressed environmental damage caused by US and Israeli military attacks on Iran, particularly strikes on oil, refinery and energy facilities. He cited a March 2026 UNEP assessment confirming that oil facilities in and around Iranian urban areas, including Tehran, had been targeted, causing fires that released hazardous compounds. Such pollution, he warned, could spread from the air to soil and water resources and ultimately affect the food chain. Araqchi emphasized that these consequences go far beyond economic losses, imposing long-term health and environmental costs on civilians, children and future generations.
Araqchi said international law must not remain indifferent to environmental destruction and violations of fundamental human rights during armed conflicts. He called for the effective implementation of international humanitarian law, particularly the principles of distinction and proportionality, alongside serious consideration of the direct, indirect and long-term environmental consequences of military operations.
He also urged the international community to establish effective mechanisms for preventing environmental damage, independently documenting its extent, assessing its lasting effects, providing compensation and ensuring accountability.
Iran, Araqchi added, supports legal and expert discussions on strengthening international environmental protection, including consideration of recognizing ecocide as a separate international crime.
The foreign minister further warned against double standards and the politicization of environmental protection, arguing that environmental obligations must be applied fairly, transparently and without discrimination.
He called for restrictions that hinder countries’ access to financing, technology and essential equipment for environmental protection and climate action to be seriously examined under international law.
Proposing three priorities for international cooperation, Araqchi urged stronger legal frameworks and clear criteria for addressing severe environmental destruction, impartial scientific mechanisms to document wartime damage and determine applicable responsibilities, and expanded regional and international cooperation to prevent destruction and restore damaged ecosystems.
Araqchi also described the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) as an opportunity to highlight the environmental and climate consequences of military aggression. He said Iran is ready to contribute its scientific, legal and diplomatic capacities to these efforts, stressing that perpetrators must not escape responsibility and that collective action is needed to protect the environment and the rights of future generations.