IRGC General Raps US as Biggest Violator of Environment

Addressing a conference on “Environmental Threats and the National Security of Iran”, held in Tehran on Sunday, Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi discussed the security implications of environmental degradation and the role of Western powers in creating such threats.

He said the most significant intentional factor behind the destruction of the environment is the weaponry produced by the United States, adding that America ranks first globally in environmental violations, followed by other Western countries.

The IRGC deputy commander also criticized the US’ so-called “Golden Dome” missile defense project, saying it effectively represents interference in outer space and the militarization of space.

Under existing international conventions, the militarization of space is prohibited, yet past initiatives such as the “Star Wars” program and current plans for the Golden Dome reflect continued disregard for international conventions and legal frameworks, the IRGC general noted, adding that such actions carry harmful environmental consequences.

Vahidi cited nuclear testing as another major example of deliberate, human-made environmental threats, noting that some large-scale nuclear tests have been conducted underwater, causing severe environmental damage. He added that nuclear tests carried out in the upper atmosphere as well as underground pose serious risks, describing them as among the most significant man-made hazards, the majority of which, he said, have been carried out by the US.

Referring to environmental and ecological threats in Gaza, the IRGC official described the territory as a clear example of the deliberate destruction of the environment by Zionist and American bombs. He said many people have been killed there and stressed that wars constitute a major factor in environmental destruction and environmental hazards, which he attributed to actions by Western countries.

Tasnim News Agency