In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Petroleum
Minister Mohsen Paknejad, represented by a deputy in the correspondence, stated
that two separate attacks on March 7 and March 18 had targeted fuel storage
tanks in Tehran and gas refineries in the South Pars region of the Persian
Gulf.
"These attacks, going beyond limited military
operations, are tantamount to the commencement of an all-out war against Iran's
energy security and economy," the letter, dated March 23, said.
The minister asserted that the attacks were carried out
using the airspace and territory of neighboring countries, highlighting the
complex security dimensions of the incursions and calling for regional
governments to be held accountable.
The letter detailed significant damage to vital oil and gas
infrastructure, causing disruptions to the national energy network. It also
highlighted severe environmental and humanitarian impacts, including the
release of large volumes of greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants from fires at
the targeted facilities, posing a serious threat to regional health and the
Persian Gulf's ecosystem. The disruptions have also affected the daily lives of
millions of Iranians and thousands of industrial units.
The minister emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran
has never initiated aggression and does not seek to escalate regional tensions.
However, he accused some regional countries of complicity and inaction, and the
international community of a "deplorable silence" in condemning the
attacks, which he claimed emboldens Israel and the U.S. to continue their
actions.
The letter urged the UN chief to play a decisive role in
halting these "crimes" and called for a firm and explicit stance from
the United Nations, as the highest international body for peace and security,
to demand an immediate cessation of attacks, compensation for damages, and
guarantees against future incidents.
"Your commendable and impartial performance in this
critical situation will not only aid in restoring peace and security in the
region and the world but will also be an effective step in rebuilding the
international community's trust in this organization and its high position in
safeguarding common human values," the letter concluded.