The images of darkened skies from oil infrastructure set ablaze by airstrikes were chilling — including black rain that fell near Tehran. Soot, ash, and toxic chemicals from strikes on fuel depots and refineries combined with atmospheric water and fell back to Earth as an oily, acidic rain, prompting warnings to stay indoors.  Microscopic soot raises risks of lung and heart problems, while toxic chemicals pose long-term cancer risks, and heavy metals from the fallout could contaminate soil and water supplies for decades. 

There have already been several oil spills, with around 20 ships targeted. The Persian Gulf is particularly vulnerable — it is very shallow and enclosed, meaning pollution cannot easily disperse. It contains sensitive ecosystems including coral reefs and seagrass beds.  Sunken naval vessels also become point sources of ongoing pollution.

Countries in the Persian Gulf region rely on hundreds of desalination plants for drinking water. Iran has said a US airstrike damaged one of its desalination plants, while Bahrain accused Iran of damaging one of its plants.   Around 100 million people in the region rely on desalinated water, and desalination plants don’t function properly if they’re drawing in oil-contaminated seawater.   Contamination of water bodies is of particular concern for Iran, where drought and mismanagement have already severely depleted water resources. 

Experts warn that the environmental damage — spanning air, water, soil, and marine ecosystems — could persist for decades. 

The total confirmed death toll across all countries involved in the war with Iran is now over 3,200, with the vast majority of casualties in Iran itself. The deadliest single incident occurred in the city of Minab, where a strike on an elementary girls’ school killed more than 170 people, most of them young schoolgirls.  

Israel and the US blatantly carry out attacks on healthcare professionals – WHO reports at least 18 hospitals and health facilities have been hit, and Iran has reported that several schools and residential areas have been severely damaged.

Israel has killed at least 1238 people in Lebanon. More than one million people have been displaced — roughly 25% of Lebanon’s entire population — creating a severe humanitarian crisis.

While most of us here in Aotearoa have been slammed with rapidly increasing fuel and transportation costs and delays in shipping, there are major corporations who are benefiting hugely from this illegal war. 

Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, and BAE Systems were among the largest immediate beneficiaries by market capitalization. The biggest US defense companies agreed to quadruple production of advanced weaponry following a White House meeting with their CEOs. In Israel, Elbit Systems briefly became the country’s most valuable listed company, with shares up 45% since January.  

Potential insider traders are a sign of the corruption at the heart of the system. 

A Financial Times investigation found that $580 million in bets on falling oil prices were placed just 15 minutes before Trump published his statement on postponing attacks for talks on March 23, which caused oil prices to drop — resulting in speculation about insider trading and calls for further investigation.  

The broader picture is one of concentrated gains for a few industries against widespread economic pain — the three largest defense firms saw combined shareholder gains of $25–30 billion on just the first day of strikes, while analysts warn the conflict could push major European economies into recession by the end of 2026.  

President Trump aims to increase US military spending to $1.5 trillion by 2027. Most military analysts view a full ground invasion of Iran as strategically catastrophic — comparable to but far larger in scale than the 2003 Iraq invasion — with no clear path to victory, enormous casualties on all sides, and no viable exit strategy. The current US approach appears focused on air power, regime decapitation, and hoping for internal collapse rather than boots on the ground. Full capitulation — encompassing the abandonment of Iran’s nuclear and missile programs — remains unlikely even after the killing of Khamenei. Hardline elements within the IRGC are likely dominating decision-making. Washington may be banking on rapid internal fracture or large-scale defections, yet there is little evidence of this so far within a deeply institutionalized and ideological system. A successful popular uprising also remains improbable. 

As we all begin to feel the impact of this senseless war it’s time to come together and say no to the war! We demand an independent foreign policy which upholds international law for the benefit of all.