Masoud Pejeshkian, the President of Iran, called for accountability for the environmental damage caused by US and Israeli attacks on Iran on Wednesday.
Pejeshkian warned that military conflicts hinder global attempts to counter climate change, emphasizing that peace is a necessary condition for environmental preservation and sustainable development.
Speaking at the UN Climate Change Summit in Antalya, Turkey, Pejeshkian urged the international community to reconsider the concepts of common responsibility and climate justice, highlighting the inseparable link between peace and nature.
He stated: 'It is no longer possible to talk about the future of Earth while ignoring wars that target the soil, water, air, natural resources, and human life,' describing the environment as a silent victim of armed clashes whose consequences persist for generations.
The President noted that military aggression by the US and Israel against Iran has resulted in significant environmental damage, in addition to human and economic losses, releasing huge volumes of pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Pejeshkian, who is a cardiac surgeon, reported that attacks on fuel facilities in Assaluyeh led to the emission of about 500,000 tons of greenhouse gases, while targeted strikes on fuel storage facilities near Tehran caused the release of approximately one million tons of carbon dioxide.
He characterized this situation as a sharp contradiction, noting that while the global community works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen climate adaptation, large-scale military operations involving fuel consumption, ammunition explosions, infrastructure destruction, and extensive fires negate years of work in ecology and climate.
Furthermore, Pejeshkian expressed concern over attacks on protected natural areas, stating that such strikes constitute an encroachment on the common natural heritage of current and future generations.
