Masoud Pezeshkian addresses biodiversity summit in Armenia

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attended the 17th summit of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Yerevan, Armenia. During his address, Pezeshkian emphasized that biodiversity is no longer strictly a scientific or environmental issue, but one fundamentally linked to peace, security, health, and food and water security.

Pezeshkian identified war as a direct driver of environmental destruction, noting that military conflicts burn forests, destroy wetlands, pollute soil and water, and displace animal species. He argued that environmental protection can serve as a form of ‘peace diplomacy,’ acting as a bridge between nations in regions facing security crises, climate change, and ecosystem degradation.

Following the summit, the President noted that his discussions in Armenia focused on regional cooperation and the development of a joint strategic document with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. He also highlighted the importance of addressing shared environmental challenges, such as the declining water levels of the Caspian Sea and general biodiversity threats.