Araghchi Warns of Lasting Environmental Damage from Wars in West Asia

“The environment is the silent victim of war,” Araghchi said, stressing that nature, despite having no role in armed conflicts, often suffers some of their most severe and enduring consequences. He warned that continued hostilities across the region were causing further environmental destruction and expressed concern that the trend could persist under current US policies.

Referring to the latest round of US-Israeli attacks on Iran, Araghchi said strikes on oil infrastructure had damaged the environment and threatened public health. He cited fires at refinery storage facilities in Tehran, claiming that smoke darkened the capital’s sky for a day and that the effects remained visible for two to three days. He also reported that black rain fell over the city, alleging that millions of residents were exposed to pollutants and toxic chemicals.