Iran tells COP31 it wants compensation for environmental damage from US-Israeli strikes

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for compensation for environmental damage resulting from US and Israeli strikes during a speech at the COP31 climate conference. He stressed that the issue is linked to global efforts to combat climate change, urging the international community to create a meaningful connection between climate commitments during peace and responsibility during war.

Pezeshkian advocated for documenting and assessing environmental damages caused by military aggressions, as well as developing compensation mechanisms. His remarks came during back-to-back speeches by heads of state on the third day of the two-week conference in Turkey.

The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran in February as part of operations Epic Fury and Roaring Lion. These strikes, which also affected Lebanon and the Gulf, involved repeated attacks on energy infrastructure and shipping. Iran retaliated by targeting oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, causing environmental damage through substantial oil leaks.

The conflict may have also led to a reduction in global fossil fuel emissions, according to a report from an international consortium of scientists. The report suggests that global emissions are on track to fall slightly this year, largely due to high fuel prices and increased use of renewable energy resulting from the conflict.