Iran Blames U.S.-Israeli Conflict for Widespread Environmental Devastation

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, warned that oil pollution from the U.S.-Israeli war is washing up on Iranian shores, illustrating a larger pattern of environmental degradation in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. By March, the Conflict and Environment Observatory documented more than 300 possible ecological incidents in twelve countries, ranging from attacks on oil depots to damage to desalination plants and nuclear sites.

Satellite imagery of the region has been curtailed at the request of the U.S., hampering independent assessments of the damage. Research by the Climate and Community Institute estimates that strikes in the first two weeks of the war emitted roughly five million metric cubic tons of greenhouse gases, comparable to a year’s emissions of Iceland. Experts cite the long-term health risks of contaminated water, asbestos-laden rubble, toxic propellants and heavy metals, drawing parallels to the post-war health crises observed in Fallujah, Iraq. The article argues that targeting civilian infrastructure violates international law, citing the Rome Statute and the International Committee of the Red Cross, and warns that the ecological fallout will affect generations to come.