Tehran: An international seminar titled ‘The Shadow of War on People and Nature in the Region’ has been held in Tehran, Iran. The event took place at Tarbiat Modares University in Tehran on Sunday to mark the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, observed annually on November 6.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, the seminar featured a videoconference presentation by Mark Zeitoun, an expert from the Geneva Water Hub, who discussed the role of water in armed conflicts. Zeitoun highlighted how water is often manipulated as a tool, target, and victim in warfare, and he criticized the misuse of water resources as a means to harm civilians.

In his remarks, Zeitoun also addressed the ongoing situation in Palestine, where access to water is severely restricted for most Gazans. He elaborated on the themes of his book ‘Reflections: Understanding Our Use and Abuse of Water’, which examines how wars both victimize and weaponize water. Zeitoun underscored the irrational measures that people take regarding water use, stating, ‘We make deserts bloom and lakes dry,’ to illustrate the consequences of such actions.