Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for stronger international mechanisms to assess and repair environmental damage caused by armed conflict, warning that war threatens biodiversity far beyond national borders.
Addressing the leaders’ summit of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Yerevan, Armenia, on October 16, 2026, President Pezeshkian said biodiversity protection was linked not only to the environment, but also to peace, security, food and water security, and justice between generations.
He said Iran’s diverse ecosystems, species and genetic resources formed a natural and cultural heritage shaped by millions of years of evolution over time. From the Hyrcanian and Arasbaran forests to the Zagros Mountains, deserts and the coasts of the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Caspian Sea, these resources underpin the country’s resilience and sustainable development, he said.
President Pezeshkian said Iran had adopted a national biodiversity strategy and action plan and designated the Department of Environment as its national coordinator. Priorities include expanding protected areas to 28 percent, monitoring key species, developing wildlife rehabilitation centers and implementing action plans for 25 vertebrate species. National task forces have been established for species including the Asiatic cheetah and Persian fallow deer, he said.
Turning to armed conflict, President Pezeshkian said war burns forests, damages wetlands, contaminates soil and water, destroys habitats and introduces pollutants and heavy metals into natural systems. Such harm can persist for years after fighting ends and affect the security and well-being of future generations.
He said the United States and the Israeli regime are causing environmental damage through military operations in the region, citing damage to industrial and energy facilities, fires, pollution and harm to protective infrastructure. He said environmental impacts crossed political borders and required solutions.
Referring to Gaza, he warned that damage to soil and ecological systems could endure for generations and described the destruction as ecocide, which he emphasized should be condemned.
President Pezeshkian also highlighted the challenges facing countries dealing with climate change, drought, water scarcity and desertification while facing economic sanctions and limited access to finance and technology. Biodiversity commitments, he said, would remain on paper without adequate funding, fair access to technology and capacity-building.
He called on United Nations agencies, international financial institutions and environmental and sustainable-development bodies to strengthen funding mechanisms, assess environmental damage, restore affected ecosystems and support countries dealing with the consequences of armed conflict. Countries under sanctions or subjected to military aggression should not be left to bear these costs alone, he said.
President Pezeshkian said Iran was ready to share its scientific and academic experience with other countries. Protecting biodiversity, he added, could become an important arena for peace diplomacy, with environmental cooperation serving as a bridge between nations and helping advance peace with nature and a safer future for coming generations.