Strikes on fuel storage facilities in the Middle East could trigger severe environmental consequences, according to Glenn Diesen, a professor at the University of South-Eastern Norway.

In a post on the social media platform X, Diesen noted that attacks on fuel infrastructure had already sparked large-scale fires. He reported that in Tehran, the strikes even ignited sewage flows. According to the professor, actions of this kind could set off an environmental disaster whose effects might be felt for decades. He warned that widespread pollution could eventually lead to a rise in cancer cases and other serious illnesses.

Diesen also criticized Western political and media circles, arguing that they portray the actions of the United States and Israel as a humanitarian initiative.

Earlier, Ismail Hoseini, a representative of the energy commission in Iran’s parliament, said that four oil storage facilities in the country had come under attack. Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that such strikes are comparable to the use of chemical weapons against civilians, as they release hazardous toxic substances into the atmosphere.