WANA (Jun 29) – In a formal letter addressed to the Secretary-General and President of the United Nations Security Council, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has called on the Council to recognize Israel and the United States as initiators of an act of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran and to hold them accountable, including through reparations and compensation for damages.

 

The letter, dated June 29, references previous correspondence, including document S/2025/379 dated June 13, 2025, regarding what Iran describes as “acts of aggression” carried out by Israel between June 13 and June 24, 2025. Araghchi emphasized the Security Council’s primary responsibility, under the UN Charter, to maintain international peace and security.

 

“Since the start of the Israeli aggression against Iran on June 13, which constitutes a grave violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, numerous civilian areas, including residential buildings, hospitals, and critical infrastructure, have been deliberately targeted,” the letter states.

 

The letter asserts that attacks on hospitals and emergency centers constitute serious breaches of international humanitarian law, while assaults on energy facilities were meant to disrupt civilian life.

 

It further claims that Iran’s nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards in Qom, Arak, Natanz, and Isfahan were also targeted by joint strikes from Israel and the United States, in clear violation of the UN Charter, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and IAEA regulations.

 

Violations of International Law

Araghchi listed a number of international legal norms allegedly violated by the attacks, including:

  • The right to life under Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR);
  • The prohibition on the use of force under Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and customary international law (UNGA Resolution 2625 on Friendly Relations);
  • The prohibition of aggression (UNGA Resolution 3314);
  • The obligation of non-intervention in the internal affairs of other states.
  • Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states;
  • The Iranian people’s right to self-determination under Article 1(2) of the UN Charter and Article 1(1) of both the ICCPR and the ICESCR.

 

International Condemnation

  • The letter notes that a wide range of UN member states and regional organizations have issued strong condemnations of the attacks, considering them serious violations of the UN Charter. These include:
  • The Non-Aligned Movement (Statement on June 13, 2025)
  • The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (June 17, 2025)
  • BRICS (June 25, 2025)
  • The Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter (June 14 and 24, 2025)
  • The Arab League (June 21, 2025)
  • The Gulf Cooperation Council (June 17, 2025)
  • The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (Resolution on June 22, 2025)

 

Araghchi highlighted that recognizing and responding to such violations is essential to upholding the rule of law at the international level, especially given the universal obligation of states not to recognize breaches of peremptory norms of international law.

 

Call for Accountability

In line with Article 39 of the UN Charter, the letter formally requests the Security Council to:

  • Acknowledge that Israel and the United States initiated an act of aggression against Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity;
  • Hold them accountable for the consequences, including the obligation to provide reparations.
  • Ensure that the perpetrators of this aggression are brought to justice.
  • Take preventive measures to avoid repetition of such grave violations, thereby fulfilling its responsibility to maintain global peace and security.

 

Warning on Legal and Moral Implications

The Iranian official stressed that political and military leaders responsible for ordering acts of aggression bear individual criminal responsibility under customary international law. He warned that failing to address this “brazen assault” on the foundations of international law would severely undermine the credibility of the United Nations system and threaten the rule of law globally.

 

“Turning a blind eye to these actions risks creating lawlessness in the future of international relations — both in our region and across the global community,” the letter warns.

 

Iran concluded the letter by requesting its distribution as an official document of both the General Assembly and the Security Council.