At COP17 Leaders’ Summit, Iranian president warns of war’s devastating environmental consequences

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in his remarks at the COP17 Leaders’ Summit in Yerevan, said that biodiversity is no longer merely an environmental concern but a global issue.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the esteemed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the Government of the Republic of Armenia, and the Armenian people for hosting COP17 and generously inviting us. The Islamic Republic of Iran was among the first countries to join the Convention on Biological Diversity, recognizing the international legal importance of this issue. However, Iran’s connection with biodiversity is not limited to our membership in an international convention. Our country is home to thousands of species. We have biodiversity in the Persian Gulf, and it is intertwined with Iran’s history. The responsibility to care for nature is an important part of the cultural, religious, and historical identity of Iranians. For Iran, protecting biodiversity is not merely a matter of conserving species and natural habitats; it is a key priority in preserving national culture and civilizational heritage. Our country has long regarded nature with reverence. Iran has a national strategy and action plan for biodiversity conservation, which is coordinated by the Ministry of Environment,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said.

The Iranian president also emphasized that wars are not only about human casualties and the targeting of infrastructure; they also destroy forests, fertile lands, wetlands, and water resources. The use of weaponry releases hazardous chemical elements and heavy metals into the natural environment, he stressed.

“The destruction of the natural environment is a direct consequence of war. This issue poses a serious threat to the well-being of future generations in our region, including Iran. The environmental consequences of military aggression require urgent security measures from the international community,” the Iranian president said.

He said that the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran is causing serious damage to the country’s ecosystems.

“We expect the international community to establish effective and transparent mechanisms to protect our natural heritage and biodiversity. No state should ever be allowed to turn nature into a silent and defenseless victim during wartime,” the Iranian president said.