Iran Condemns Assassinations of Senior Officials, Demands Accountability
WANA (Mar 19) – Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeed Iravani, has formally protested in a letter to the UN Secretary-General, the President of the Security Council, and the President of the General Assembly against the targeted assassinations of National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani, Minister of Intelligence Esmail Khatib, and their associates, attributing the attacks to Israel.
The letter builds on previous communications concerning what Iran describes as continued acts of aggression by the Israeli regime.
According to Iravani, on 17 March 2026, during a new wave of unprovoked and unlawful acts against Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Israel deliberately targeted Ali Larijani, resulting in his death, along with his son, Morteza Larijani, his deputy Alireza Bayat, and several protective personnel.
The letter further notes that these “cowardly terrorist acts” continued with the assassination of Minister of Intelligence Esmail Khatib. Iravani also referenced the 28 February 2026 U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, which included targeted attacks on the Supreme Leader and other senior officials, causing thousands of civilian casualties and significant damage to non-military infrastructure.
Iran accused the leaders of the United States and Israel of openly justifying these targeted killings and taking responsibility for the actions, arguing that such attacks constitute blatant violations of binding international law, including provisions of the 1973 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Persons Under International Protection.
The letter emphasizes that these acts create international state responsibility and individual criminal liability for all persons involved in planning, ordering, authorizing, executing, or assisting these criminal actions.
It underscores that assassinations of state officials, under any pretext, are grossly illegal under international law and should serve as an urgent warning to the international community.
Iravani warned that continued international inaction, particularly by the UN Security Council, emboldens Israel to normalize the targeted killing of government officials, creating a dangerous precedent that undermines the rule of law, threatens sovereignty, and poses a direct risk to global peace and security. He stated that if unchecked, such practices would extend beyond Iran, threatening leaders and governments worldwide.
In conclusion, Iran urged the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council to fulfill their obligations under the UN Charter to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure full accountability of the United States and Israel for these “heinous terrorist acts.”
The letter requested that it be distributed as an official document of the Security Council and the General Assembly under Agenda Item 84, titled “Rule of Law at the National and International Levels.”
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretariat Confirms the Assassination of Ali Larijani
WANA (Mar 18) – In an official statement, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretariat confirmed the assassination of Ali Larijani, a member of the Expediency Discernment Council and one of the Islamic Republic’s most veteran political figures. In its message, the Secretariat described Larijani as a “righteous servant of God” and a “fighter for […]
