WANA (Sep 10) – Gholamhossein Darzi, Iran’s Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, has condemned the latest U.S. sanctions against 27 Iranian airlines and entities operating in the country’s civil aviation sector, describing them as an example of “economic terrorism, collective punishment and crimes against humanity.”

 

In a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the President of the UN Security Council, Darzi said the sanctions announced by the U.S. Treasury Department on September 8, 2026, represented a further escalation of Washington’s unilateral coercive measures against Iran.

 

He said the measures were aimed at exerting economic pressure on the Iranian people and depriving them of essential goods and services.

 

Darzi also referred to the wars waged by the United States and Israel against Iran in 2025 and 2026, arguing that after failing to achieve their objectives through military action and efforts to involve other countries, Washington had turned to economic pressure as an alternative means of pursuing those objectives.

 

Warning of Impact on Civil Aviation

Iran’s UN envoy said sanctions targeting the civil aviation sector could have direct consequences for flight safety and the lives of civilians.

 

According to the letter, the measures could disrupt Iranian airlines’ access to aircraft spare parts, equipment, maintenance, repair, inspection and technical services required for the safe operation of civilian aircraft, potentially exposing passengers and aviation workers to avoidable risks.

 

Darzi also warned that the measures could restrict the movement of millions of civilians, describing this as inconsistent with the fundamental objectives of the Chicago Convention, including promoting communication, cooperation, friendship and understanding among nations and ensuring safe and sustainable international civil aviation.

 

Iran Cites 2018 ICJ Order

Darzi further argued that the new U.S. sanctions were inconsistent with a ruling issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on October 3, 2018.

 

According to the letter, the ICJ had taken into consideration the potential impact of U.S. measures on civil aviation safety and the lives of passengers and had ordered the United States to remove obstacles to the free export of goods and services required for the safety of civil aviation in Iran.

 

The Iranian envoy said the systematic use of economic and financial measures to deliberately impose severe hardship and deprivation on Iran’s civilian population for the purpose of exerting political pressure constituted a violation of the UN Charter and fundamental rules of international law, including international human rights law and obligations concerning the protection of civilians.

 

Iran Calls on Security Council to Act

Darzi said the Islamic Republic of Iran would use all available legal channels to pursue accountability, seek compensation and defend its rights, adding that those responsible for the measures would be held accountable for their consequences.

 

He called on the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council to urge the United States to immediately halt its unilateral coercive measures and military actions against Iran, address the humanitarian and human rights consequences of the sanctions, and condemn the systematic use of unilateral coercive measures as a tool of political pressure.

 

Iran also called on UN member states to refrain from recognizing or implementing U.S. unilateral coercive measures that Tehran considers contrary to international law and the UN Charter, particularly measures that cause, or can reasonably be expected to cause, widespread humanitarian harm to civilian populations.