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Scoop
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
UN Experts Condemn United States Attack On Iran And Demand Permanent End To Hostilities
GENEVA (26 June 2025) – UN experts* today unequivocally condemned the recent United States military attack against three nuclear facilities in Iran. 'These attacks violate the most fundamental rules of world order since 1945 – the prohibition on the aggressive use of military force and the duties to respect sovereignty and not to coercively intervene in another country,' the experts said. 'The responsible U.S. political and military leaders may also be liable for the international crime of aggression.' 'The attacks also seriously threatened human rights, including the rights to life, security of the person, health, a clean environment and self-determination of the people of Iran,' they said. The U.S. launched 75 munitions by air and sea against the facilities at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan, causing extensive damage. Iran retaliated against a U.S. base in Qatar, causing no injuries or damage. A fragile ceasefire now appears to be in place. Article 2(4) of the Charter of the United Nations prohibits the threat or use of force against any state, except in self-defence or if the Security Council approves. Self-defence is only available in response to an actual or imminent armed attack by another country. 'Iran has not attacked the U.S. or Israel with a nuclear weapon. There is no evidence whatsoever that Iran intends to imminently attack the U.S. or Israel with a nuclear weapon.' 'Preventive' or 'anticipatory' self-defence against speculative future threats, such as nuclear proliferation or terrorism, has not been permitted by international law since the United Nations Charter was adopted 80 years ago. 'Accepting preventive self-defence would unleash a catastrophic era of 'might is right', where powerful countries could bomb others to advance their security or foreign policy interests. This would fuel corrosive suspicion, 'arms races' and destabilising 'balance of power' alliances – precisely what the post-1945 order, out of the ashes of a world war, aimed to avoid,' they said. 'It would further destabilise the Middle East region and increase the risk to human rights everywhere.' The experts affirmed the view of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that nuclear facilities must never be attacked as doing so could cause the release of radioactive material with devastating impacts on the environment and human rights, including the rights to life, personal security, health, protection against arbitrary displacement and the rights of the most vulnerable and marginalised communities. International humanitarian law generally prohibits attacks on nuclear facilities. 'We urge all parties to refrain from further uses of force and to commit to the peaceful settlement of international disputes in accordance with the United Nations Charter, including through the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the IAEA and with respect for the human rights of all people,' they said. 'The timing of the strikes undermined peaceful diplomatic efforts to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as well as peace and security in the region and beyond,' the experts noted. 'In a world experiencing deep economic crisis, and as members of an international community that is committed to peace, we believe that financial resources mobilised for military aggression should be utilised to foster peace-making and development,' they said. 'These attacks by the U.S., a permanent member of the Security Council responsible for maintaining international peace and security, normalises violent aggression and 'gunboat diplomacy' as a tool of statecraft and severely undermines the international rule of law,' the experts warned. 'At a time of crisis for multilateralism, all countries should oppose such lawlessness and pressure the U.S. and Israel to respect the universal rules of humanity.' *The experts: Ben Saul, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism; Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Mai Sato, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic republic of Iran; Siobhán Mullally, Special Rapporteur on trafficking in person, especially women and children; Tomoya Obokata, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery; Laura Nyirinkindi (Chair), Claudia Flores (Vice-Chair), Dorothy Estrada Tanck, Ivana Krstić, and Haina Lu, Working group on discrimination against women and girls; George Katrougalos, Independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order; Marcos A. Orellana, Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes; Attiya Waris, Independent Expert on foreign debt, other international financial obligations and human rights; Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Farida Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on the right to education; Paula Gaviria Betancur, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons; Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967; Gabriella Citroni, (Chair-Rapporteur), Grażyna Baranowska (Vice-Chair), Aua Baldé, Ana Lorena Delgadillo Pérez, Mohammed Al-Obaidi, Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances; Margaret Satterthwaite, Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; Richard Bennett, Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan; Bina D'Costa (Chair), Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent; Ashwini, K.P., Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; Elizabeth Salmón, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; Reem Alsalem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences; Alena Douhan, Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights; Nicolas Levrat, Special Rapporteur on minority issues; Cecilia M. Bailliet, Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity; Surya Deva, ; Heba Hagrass, .
News18
11 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Iran Accuses US, Israel Of Terrorism For Threatening To Assassinate Khamenei, Urges UN Action
Last Updated: Iran cited the Israeli Defence Minister's remarks on assassinating Khamenei as well as Trump's comments calling him an "easy target" as examples of terror-inciting statements. Iran has accused the United States and Israel of state terrorism for openly threatening to assassinate Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and urged the UN Security Council to discharge legal responsibilities against such 'criminal and provocative rhetoric". 'The US and the Zionist regime of Israel have openly threatened to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader. This criminal act constitutes a manifest instance of State terrorism; and, the very gravity of such a threat must not be permitted to be diminished or normalised in any manner whatsoever," said the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations. Iran referenced Israel Defence Minister Israel Katz's remarks on Khamenei meeting a fate like Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, and US President Donald Trump's remarks about Khamenei being an 'easy target" as 'unlawful, provocative and terror-inciting statements". It also highlighted Trump's recent statement where he said the US saved Khamenei from an 'ugly and ignominious" death. The U.S. and the Zionist regime of Israel have openly threatened to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader. This criminal act constitutes a manifest instance of State terrorism; and, the very gravity of such a threat must not be permitted to be diminished or normalized in any manner… — Mission to UN, NY (@Iran_UN) June 27, 2025 'Such reckless and deliberate threats by senior officials constitute a serious violation of the Charter of the United Nations, particularly Article 2(4), which unequivocally prohibits both the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State." The Iranian mission also accused Israel of launching an unprovoked and large-scale military aggression against the Islamic Republic on June 13 in flagrant violation of international law and possessing a well-documented record of state-sponsored assassinations, extraterritorial terror operations, and deliberate armed attacks, including the killing of Iranian officials, nuclear scientists and civilians. 'Such threats set a dangerous precedent by seeking to normalise assassination as a tool of foreign policy, in blatant contempt for the international legal order. The international community must not remain silent in the face of such clear and escalating violations of international law," it added. It also called on the Secretary-General, the President of the Security Council, and the President of the General Assembly, urging them to discharge their legal responsibilities against such criminal and provocative rhetoric. Israel Katz had earlier said there was no opportunity for Israel to assassinate the Supreme Leader as he went into hiding when the conflict broke out on July 13. 'If (Khamenei) had been in our sights, we would have taken him out," he told Israeli media. When the conflict was underway, Israel said assassinating Khamenei was not beyond its limits. First Published:
MTV Lebanon
2 days ago
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
Guterres says UN's founding principles under "unprecedented attack"
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday condemned unprecedented "attacks" on the principles of the United Nations, in a speech marking the 80th anniversary of the signing of the organization's founding charter. "Let us be clear: today, we are witnessing attacks on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations on an unprecedented scale," Guterres told member states. He pointed to "the threat or use of force against sovereign states, violations of international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, the exploitation of food and water, and the erosion of human rights," without naming any party responsible for these violations. Guterres continued, "We are also observing a familiar pattern: adhering to the Charter when it suits us, and ignoring it when it doesn't. The UN Charter is not optional. It is not an a la carte menu."
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
India joins BRICS statement expressing ‘grave concern' over strikes against Iran
India has joined the BRICS grouping to 'express grave concern' over the 'military strikes against Iran' since June 13 and has called it a 'violation of international law and UN Charter. PM Narendra Modi is expected to travel to Rio de Janeiro for the BRICS summit on July 5-6. Iran expressed 'gratitude' to India's 'freedom-loving' citizens, political parties, institutions and others who stood by Tehran in the face of military attacks on it by Israel and the US. This comes 10 days after India had distanced itself from a statement issued by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) which condemned the military strikes carried out by Israel. A joint statement by BRICS said, 'We express grave concern over the military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran since 13 June 2025, which constitute a violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and the subsequent escalation of the security situation in the Middle East.' It also said, 'In the face of rising tensions with unpredictable consequences for international peace and security, as well as for the world economy, we underscore the urgent need to break the cycle of violence and restore peace. We call on all parties to engage through existing channels of dialogue and diplomacy, with a view to de-escalating the situation and resolving their differences through peaceful means.' 'We express serious concern over any attacks against peaceful nuclear installations that are carried out in violation of international law and relevant resolutions of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Nuclear safeguards, safety, and security must always be upheld, including in armed conflicts, to protect people and the environment from harm. In this context, we reiterate our support for diplomatic initiatives aimed at addressing regional challenges,' it said, alluding to the strikes by US and Israel on nuclear facilities in Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz. It said that civilian lives must be protected, and civilian infrastructure must be safeguarded, in full compliance with international humanitarian law. 'We extend our sincere condolences to the families of the victims and express our solidarity with civilians affected,' it said. 'Guided by the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, BRICS remains committed to promoting international peace and security and to fostering diplomacy and peaceful dialogue as the only sustainable path toward long-term stability in the region. In this regard, we also reaffirm the necessity of establishing a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, in line with relevant international resolutions. We call upon the international community to support and facilitate dialogue processes, uphold international law, and contribute constructively to peaceful settlements of disputes for the benefit of all humanity,' it said, adding that BRICS countries will remain seized of the matter. In a statement, the Iranian embassy in Delhi said it appreciates the 'genuine and invaluable support' to those siding with Tehran. The Iranian embassy extended 'heartfelt gratitude' to all 'freedom-loving' people of India –including political parties, members of Parliament, non-governmental organisations, religious and spiritual leaders, university professors, members of the media, social activists, and all individuals and institutions who stood firmly and vocally with Iran. The embassy said messages of solidarity, support, public statements, and active participation in peace-oriented gatherings when the Iranian people were under military assault, were a source of 'deep encouragement'. 'The steadfastness of the Iranian people in the face of this blatant aggression was not merely a defence of their homeland and national dignity, but a symbol of resistance against the grave violations of the United Nations Charter, humanitarian principles, and the foundational norms of international law,' it said. The solidarity of nations with the people of Iran is not simply a political stance — it is an affirmation of the universal values of justice, legality, and global peace, it said. 'The Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently emphasized the need to uphold the principles of international law and to resist expansionist and aggressive policies. 'We firmly believe that the unity and solidarity of nations serve as a powerful bulwark against war, violence, and injustice,' the embassy said. On June 14, SCO, currently chaired by China, called Israel's 'aggressive actions against civilian targets (in Iran), including energy and transport infrastructure, which have resulted in civilian casualties, a gross violation of international law and the United Nations Charter'. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said: 'India did not participate in the discussions on the above-mentioned SCO statement… India's own position on the matter had been articulated by us on June 13, 2025, and remains the same. We urge that channels of dialogue and diplomacy be utilised to work towards de-escalation and it is essential that the international community undertake endeavours in that direction.' It said that India's 'overall position' was communicated to other SCO members. In its statement, the SCO had expressed 'serious concern over the escalating tensions in the Middle East and strongly condemn(ed) the military strikes carried out by Israel on the territory of Iran.' 'They (actions) constitute an infringement on Iran's sovereignty, cause damage to regional and international security, and pose serious risks to global peace and stability,' the SCO statement had said. Shubhajit Roy, Diplomatic Editor at The Indian Express, has been a journalist for more than 25 years now. Roy joined The Indian Express in October 2003 and has been reporting on foreign affairs for more than 17 years now. Based in Delhi, he has also led the National government and political bureau at The Indian Express in Delhi — a team of reporters who cover the national government and politics for the newspaper. He has got the Ramnath Goenka Journalism award for Excellence in Journalism '2016. He got this award for his coverage of the Holey Bakery attack in Dhaka and its aftermath. He also got the IIMCAA Award for the Journalist of the Year, 2022, (Jury's special mention) for his coverage of the fall of Kabul in August 2021 — he was one of the few Indian journalists in Kabul and the only mainstream newspaper to have covered the Taliban's capture of power in mid-August, 2021. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
India backs Brics position against strikes on Iran
A little more than a week after disassociating itself from a statement by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) condemning Israel's attacks on Iran, India joined other members of Brics in expressing grave concern at the military strikes on Iran and the escalation of the security situation in the Middle East. People walk next to a mural with a picture of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on a street, early hours of ceasefire, in Tehran, Iran, on June 24. (Reuters) The Brics — which includes Brasil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Iran — issued the statement on Tuesday to say that the military strikes amounted to a violation of international law and the UN Charter. Unlike the statement issued by SCO on June 14, which directly named Israel, the Brics statement made no mention of either the US or Israel while referring to the military strikes against Iran. This made it possible for the Indian side to sign on to the statement, people familiar with the matter said. 'We express grave concern over the military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran since 13 June 2025, which constitute a violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and the subsequent escalation of the security situation in the Middle East,' the Brics statement said. The Brics member states emphasised the 'urgent need to break the cycle of violence and restore peace' amid rising tensions with unpredictable consequences for global peace and security and the world economy. 'We call on all parties to engage through existing channels of dialogue and diplomacy, with a view to de-escalating the situation and resolving their differences through peaceful means,' the statement said. Iran and Israel agreed to a ceasefire on Tuesday after 12 days of hostilities during which the US joined the Israeli military in targeting Iranian nuclear sites. Both sides have claimed victory, with Iran saying it forced the end of the war by penetrating Israeli defences with its missiles, and Israel claiming to have achieved its goal of destroying Iranian nuclear sites. The Brics statement, however, expressed 'serious concern over any attacks against peaceful nuclear installations that are carried out in violation of international law and relevant resolutions of the International Atomic Energy Agency'. It added: 'Nuclear safeguards, safety, and security must always be upheld, including in armed conflicts, to protect people and the environment from harm. In this context, we reiterate our support for diplomatic initiatives aimed at addressing regional challenges.' The statement called for protecting and safeguarding civilian lives and civilian infrastructure in compliance with international humanitarian law. 'Guided by the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, BRICS remains committed to promoting international peace and security and to fostering diplomacy and peaceful dialogue as the only sustainable path toward long-term stability in the region,' it said. The Brics member states also called for establishing a 'zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, in line with relevant international resolutions'. While disassociating itself from the earlier SCO statement, India had said it had communicated its overall position to other members of the grouping and it did not participate in the discussions on the statement.
