Ali Bahreini, Iran’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, addressed the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday. He declared that his country would not submit to what he termed “lawless aggression.” Furthermore, he warned that Iran’s population of 90 million citizens remained in “grave danger” from ongoing military strikes by the United States and Israel.
“The most urgent and fundamental human rights issue concerning Iran is the imminent threat to the lives of 90 million people whose lives are in immediate and grave danger under the shadow of reckless military aggression,” Bahreini told the council.
Allegations of Civilian Harm
Bahreini accused Washington and Tel Aviv of conducting attacks that he described as “lawless.” He alleged that the strikes targeted civilian infrastructure and cultural heritage sites. Additionally, he claimed that children died in a missile strike on a school in the southern city of Minab. Washington stated it was investigating the reported incident. However, journalists were unable to independently verify the claims due to a lack of access to the site.
The ambassador reported that more than 1,300 people had been killed and over 7,000 wounded in Iran since the strikes began. He asked the council, “Under such circumstances, what exactly is Iran expected to do?” He then answered his own question, stating, “Iran is not a nation that submits to coercion, intimidation or lawless aggression.”
Warning to International Community
Bahreini warned that failing to confront such actions could set a dangerous precedent internationally. He stated, “If such reckless militarism is met with indifference, Iran will most certainly not be the last country to suffer such treatment.”
The council session was originally convened to discuss Iran’s human rights record following a crackdown on anti-government protests. However, Bahreini urged delegates to instead focus on the war and its consequences for Iranian civilians.
Meanwhile, the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, along with Jordan, condemned Iranian missile attacks on their territories. They stated that Tehran’s strikes “cannot be justified under any pretext.” They added that the attacks endangered civilians and regional stability.
