Iravani Condemns U.S. and Israeli Attacks as War Crimes
WANA (Mar 01) – Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeed Iravani, condemned the recent attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, describing them as clear violations of international law, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
In an emergency session of the UN Security Council, Iravani addressed the assembly, asserting that these acts were not just an aggressive military action but amounted to deliberate and sustained violations of international law.
He detailed how the U.S. and Israel had launched coordinated military operations targeting densely populated residential areas in Iran, causing significant civilian casualties, including the deaths of over 100 children in a school attack in Minab, Hormozgan Province.
Iravani began his address by thanking the UN Security Council President and the UN Secretary-General for their efforts in convening the session, and he expressed gratitude to Russia and China for their support in calling for the meeting.
He also thanked members of the Security Council, particularly China, Pakistan, and Russia, for their principled positions condemning the unlawful actions of the U.S. and Israel.
A Deliberate and Unprovoked Aggression
Iravani described the U.S. and Israeli attacks as “unprovoked” and “premeditated,” marking the second such assault on Iran in recent months. These attacks, according to Iravani, specifically targeted civilian infrastructure, including schools, resulting in the loss of innocent lives. The violence has continued to escalate, with hundreds of civilians injured and more casualties reported.
“This is not just an act of aggression; it is a war crime and a crime against humanity,” Iravani stated, adding that the U.S. and Israeli forces deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure in an effort to destabilise the country and terrorise its population. He also denounced the attack on a school in Minab, which led to the deaths of over a hundred children.
Rejection of U.S. Justifications
Iravani expressed outrage over the statements made by U.S. representatives attempting to justify the attacks by claiming a so-called “preemptive strike” against an alleged imminent threat. He rejected these claims, asserting that such justifications were unlawful and lacked any legal or moral basis under international law.
“The claims made by the United States are legally invalid and completely baseless,” Iravani said. “They are no more than a cover for illegal use of force, which cannot be justified by invoking vague notions of ‘preemptive’ or ‘anticipatory’ defense.”
The ambassador also rejected similar claims made by other Western members of the Security Council, particularly France and the UK, regarding Iran’s nuclear program, calling them “unfounded and without legal merit.”
U.S. and Israeli Intentions for Regime Change
Iravani pointed to the statements made by both U.S. President and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had openly declared regime change in Iran as their ultimate objective. He described this as an explicit admission of their intent to violate Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“This is a clear admission that they aim to change the regime in Iran. This is an open and shameless violation of international law and Iran’s sovereignty,” he emphasised.
Iran’s Right to Self-Defense
In response to the ongoing aggression, Iravani reaffirmed Iran’s right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. He made it clear that Iran would continue to exercise its legal right to defend itself against the attacks, and that all military actions would target only the U.S. and Israeli military assets involved in the aggression.
“Iran has the right to defend itself. We are not engaging in unprovoked aggression; we are exercising our inherent right to self-defense,” Iravani declared. “Our armed forces are fully capable of responding to these acts of aggression and will continue to take necessary defensive measures until the hostilities cease.”
Commitment to Regional Peace and Sovereignty
While stressing Iran’s commitment to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbors, Iravani asserted that Iran’s military responses would only target U.S. and Israeli military assets, and that Iran had no intention of threatening the sovereignty or well-being of other countries in the region.
“Iran will not target the sovereignty, people, or interests of its neighbors in the Persian Gulf. Our responses are solely directed at the hostile military forces that are operating outside the control of host governments,” Iravani clarified.
He also highlighted Iran’s previous warnings to the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council regarding the ongoing violations of international law by the U.S. and Israel, but regretted that these concerns had not been adequately addressed.
U.S. Betrayal of Diplomacy
Iravani criticized the U.S. for abandoning diplomatic efforts in favor of military intervention, citing the collapse of negotiations due to the U.S. resorting to force. He noted that despite Iran’s commitment to diplomacy, the U.S. had once again chosen to escalate tensions through military action.
“The U.S. has betrayed diplomacy once again. While we were committed to dialogue and achieving a fair and lasting agreement, the U.S. resorted to the use of force,” Iravani said. He also condemned the ongoing U.S. policy of economic sanctions and its “maximum pressure” campaign, which he described as illegal and aimed at forcing Iran into submission.
Call for Immediate Action by the Security Council
Iravani urged the UN Security Council to take immediate and decisive action. He called for the Security Council to recognize the actions of the U.S. and Israel as acts of aggression, to demand an immediate cessation of hostilities, and to hold both countries accountable for the destruction caused to Iranian infrastructure.
“Silence in the face of this aggression constitutes complicity,” Iravani warned, urging the Security Council to act swiftly in line with its responsibilities under the UN Charter.
Accountability for War Crimes
Iravani concluded his speech with a direct and unequivocal statement: “The United States and Israel have attacked Iran. They have violated international law and the UN Charter, and they must be held accountable for their actions.”
As long as this aggression continues, Iravani pledged that Iran would firmly continue its exercise of the right to self-defense until the attacks cease.
He also stressed that the Security Council must act immediately to halt these acts of aggression and uphold the principles of international law. “The Security Council must stop these actions now. Inaction is complicity,” he said.
In closing, Iravani rejected any future claims that may be presented by Israel’s representative, reaffirming that Israel’s history of aggression and violations of international law rendered their accusations void of any credibility.
UN Security Council Convenes Amid US-Israel Attack on Iran
WANA (Mar 01) – An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council was convened after the attack on Iran by the United States and Israel on Saturday morning, February 28, 2026. The meeting included the UN Secretary-General, who condemned the attack, expressing concern about its consequences in the region and issuing a warning. […]
