Iran slams Israeli strikes on oil depots as ‘ecocide’, warns of long-term health hazards
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has condemned Israeli aerial attacks on fuel depots in the capital Tehran as a violation of international law and a form of “ecocide.”
“Residents face long-term damage to their health and well-being” and that “contamination of soil and groundwater could have generational impacts,” Araghchi wrote in a post on his X account on Monday.
He added that “Israel must be punished for its war crimes.”
Earlier this month, Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani outlined the horrific humanitarian and environmental repercussions stemming from the ongoing US-Israeli aggression against Iran, stressing that the unprovoked war has led to significant air pollution and health risks for civilians.
The UN has also voiced deep alarm over airstrikes targeting oil infrastructure in the West Asia region during the ongoing US-Israeli onslaught against Iran, highlighting severe humanitarian and environmental risks.
“We continue to raise the alarm over the humanitarian impact of escalating violence across parts of the Middle East,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a press conference on March 10.
He emphasized that this surge in hostilities is causing increased civilian death, harm to essential civilian structures, and greater population displacement.
Dujarric warned that attacks on oil sites might lead to major ecological fallout throughout the area, potentially affecting clean water supplies, breathable air, and food resources immediately.
The National Iranian Oil Refinery and Distribution Company said in a statement on March 9 that the United States and Israeli regime carried out missile attacks on oil depots in the provinces of Tehran and Alborz late on Saturday as part of their strikes on Iran’s infrastructure.
