As the world marks the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, evidence mounts that U.S.-Israeli military strikes in Iran have caused widespread and possibly permanent damage to the Persian Gulf's mangrove forests—critical carbon sinks and biodiversity havens now bearing the scars of war.
Listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites as biosphere reserves, the mangrove forests of the Persian Gulf now face an existential threat. photo: mangrove forests, Qeshm, Iran
"The effects of this war are being felt directly and indirectly on our rangelands and forests," said Kamran Pourmoghaddam, spokesperson for Iran's Organization of Natural Resources and Watershed Management, in an interview with the newspaper Iran. "The hardest-hit areas are the forests in the south of the country, particularly the mangroves, which are unique in the world."
Listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites as biosphere reserves, the mangrove forests of the Persian Gulf now face an existential threat. Under international law, an attack on a World Heritage site is considered a crime against humanity. Yet Israeli and American strikes have not spared these fragile ecosystems.
The most emblematic species of these forests, Avicennia marina, owes its name to the Persian scholar Ibn Sina (Avicenna), whose scientific legacy is now threatened by bombs. This botanical homage serves as a reminder that the destruction of these trees also means that a part of humanity's intellectual history is burning.
Oil Pollution: A Silent Spill
The most immediate threat comes from a silent oil spill. A pipeline rupture in the Bandar Abbas region released gas condensates into Gulf waters, affecting the coastlines of Qeshm, Bandar Abbas, and Bandar Khamir. The oil slick penetrated up to 5 kilometers into the mangrove forests, according to Meisam Ghasemi, deputy technical director of the Environment Department of Hormozgan Province.
The consequences are already visible: trees are dying, and wildlife is threatened. Experts observed a group of humpback dolphins swimming through the oil slick. "Before this disaster, similar pollution had already caused tree dieback in this area," Ghasemi recalled.
Local authorities ordered the shutdown of desalination plants to prevent pollution from entering the water treatment system. Torrential rains that hit the region worsened the situation by widening channels and making access to affected areas impossible for cleanup crews.
A Biodiversity Sanctuary Under Threat
Beyond the trees themselves, an entire ecosystem is in peril. These forests provide prime habitat for a multitude of bird species, including the great egret, little egret, white-throated egret, squacco heron, striated heron, grey heron, and Goliath heron. This avian sanctuary, which hosts migratory species from around the world, has now fallen silent.
The calm waters of the mangroves also serve as nursery grounds and refuges for an incredible diversity of fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. By threatening this ecosystem, all the species that depend on it—from the smallest shrimp to large predators—are condemned. The destruction of mangroves means the collapse of an entire food chain, with disastrous consequences for fisheries and the food security of coastal communities.
The Silence of the International Community
Iranian authorities are decrying the inaction of international bodies. "Some international organizations only ask for reports but remain passive in the face of this situation," lamented Hamid Zohrabi, vice-president of Iran's Department of Environment.
Yet international law is clear. Article 55 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions prohibits "the use of methods or means of warfare which are intended, or may be expected, to cause widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment." Furthermore, the 1976 ENMOD Convention prohibits the use of environmental modification techniques for military purposes.
The consequences of this pollution could be felt for years. Part of these forests may die off in the future due to the pollution caused by this war.
On this day dedicated to mangroves, the world is reminded that these coastal forests are among the most productive on the planet, capable of storing up to four times more carbon than tropical rainforests. But in the Persian Gulf, they have become a silent victim of a war that knows no truce.
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