Iranian President labels Middle East wars as environmental genocide, calls for global condemnation

During the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Yerevan, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described the ongoing wars in Gaza and the wider Middle East as “ecocide,” or environmental genocide, and called on the international community to condemn the damage. He emphasized that the ecological toll extends beyond borders and requires coordinated global action, addressing the audience that included U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

His statement coincided with rising regional tensions, as Saudi Arabia accused Iran of supplying arms, training, and support to Yemen’s Houthi militia, actions it says breach UN Security Council resolutions. Saudi deputy minister for public diplomacy Dr. Rayed Krimly said Iran’s involvement is encouraging the latest Houthi escalation, even though direct communications between Riyadh and Tehran persist. Iran, meanwhile, appears unwilling to make concessions that could ease the conflict. The president’s appeal underscores the link between warfare and environmental degradation in a region already destabilized by recent U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.