Iran president accuses US, Israel of causing environmental damage during war

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has blamed the United States and Israel for causing significant environmental harm during their recent attacks on Iran. Addressing the UN Climate Change Conference in Turkey, Pezeshkian alleged that the "criminal and illegal aggression" against Iran has released large amounts of pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

He pointed to explosions at fuel facilities near the southern gas field, which resulted in the emission of around 500,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, and strikes on fuel depots near Tehran that released an additional million tonnes. Pezeshkian called for the establishment of mechanisms to hold the US and Israel accountable for these environmental consequences.

While the exact nature of his claims could not be independently confirmed, reports suggest that oil spills have been observed off the coasts of Gulf nations, and Iran's foreign ministry has previously attributed the pollution to US military operations in the region. Pezeshkian recently visited Turkey, where he reportedly met with leaders from participating countries.

The Middle East conflict erupted on February 28, following US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, Iran launched missiles and drones against several regional countries, with backing from militant groups in Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq.