In a powerful address to the 59th Session of the Human Rights Council, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, condemned Israel’s “unprovoked aggression” against Iran, calling it a grave violation of international law and a threat to global peace.
Speaking on behalf of a nation of 100 million, Araghchi detailed a series of attacks launched by Israel on June 13, targeting civilians, infrastructure, and Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities, which he described as war crimes.
Araghchi accused Israel of committing “horrible genocide” in Palestine over the past two years and expanding its aggression by occupying neighboring lands. He highlighted the targeting of off-duty military personnel, university professors, and ordinary citizens, with hundreds killed or injured in strikes on residential areas, hospitals, and public infrastructure. The attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, fully monitored by the IAEA, were singled out as particularly egregious, risking environmental and health catastrophes due to potential radiological leaks.
“Iran is under a merciless act of aggression,” Araghchi declared, urging the Council to uphold its legal and ethical responsibilities under the UN Charter, particularly Article 2(4), which prohibits the use of force against a state’s sovereignty. He invoked Iran’s right to self-defense under Article 51, vowing to protect the nation’s territorial integrity and security with full force.
The minister also criticized Israel’s actions as a betrayal of ongoing diplomatic efforts, noting that the attacks disrupted a promising agreement to resolve disputes over Iran’s nuclear program. “This is a historic moment for human civilization,” Araghchi said, warning that failure to act risks eroding the UN-based international law system.
Appealing to the international community, he called on Switzerland, as the custodian of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, and all state parties to enforce international humanitarian law, which he claimed Israel is violating through war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Araghchi, a veteran diplomat and survivor of an earlier imposed war, stressed the urgency of collective action to stop the aggressor and hold perpetrators accountable.
“This is a call from someone who has dedicated his life to dialogue and diplomacy,” he concluded, urging the Council to act swiftly to end Israel’s impunity and restore justice.
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