HCHR_The full text of letter by Seraj to the U.N. high commissioner is as follows:
In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
Mr. Volker Turk
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
As you are aware, the Zionist occupying regime, taking advantage of the extensive intelligence, weapons and political support of Western countries that claim to protect human rights, has carried out a series of planned and coordinated military attacks against several cities in the Islamic Republic of Iran. These aggressive and illegal actions have targeted peaceful nuclear facilities, military centers, vital civilian infrastructure and residential areas.
Among the main targets of these attacks, Natanz nuclear facility, which is under the full supervision and safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, was directly attacked. These criminal aggressions also included targeted assassinations of senior military officials, nuclear scientists, and innocent civilians. As a result of these attacks, more than dozens of Iranian citizens, including women, children, and high-ranking military officials, have been martyred, and hundreds have been injured.
The widespread civilian casualties and the martyrdom of dozens of children and women following the attack on residential areas place this issue seriously within the scope of international humanitarian law. Given the current state of international conflict, the violation of international human rights and international humanitarian law by the Zionist regime is clearly evident, as presented below.
Violations by the Zionist regime from the perspective of International Human Rights
1. Arbitrary and unlawful deprivation of the right to life
The right to life, as the most fundamental human right, is absolutely protected under Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. According to General Comment No. 36 of the Human Rights Committee, the right to life does not simply mean the absence of physical death, but also includes the conditions under which a human life can be enjoyed with dignity. During the recent attacks, dozens of civilians, including women, children, the elderly and the sick, have been killed in their homes, streets or public places without playing any role in the hostilities.
2. Violation of the right to an adequate standard of living
The widespread destruction of homes, refineries, energy networks and transport infrastructure in recent attacks constitutes a profound and multifaceted violation of the right to an adequate standard of living (Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights). This right, which stems from the fundamental principles of human dignity, includes such vital components as the right to housing, access to adequate food, safe drinking water and basic sanitation. The destruction of infrastructure not only directly targets each of these components, but also systematically destroys the foundations of civilian life through cascading and escalating effects. The destruction of residential areas and homes brutally violates the right to adequate housing.
3. Violation of the right to access to health services
According to Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), states are obliged to ensure access to health care for all. During the recent bombings, there have been documented reports of the destruction of hospitals, clinics and even ambulances in cities such as Isfahan and Kermanshah. Also, the means of providing assistance to the injured and transporting patients have been severely disrupted.
4. Violation of the right to education and family life
The bombing of schools, universities, libraries and cultural centers during attacks not only violates the right to education (Article 13 of the Economic, Social and Cultural Covenant), but also causes irreparable harm to human development by depriving children and adolescents of education. The targeting of residential areas has also caused the breakdown of families, the killing or injury of family members and the displacement of thousands.
According to Article 23 of the Economic, Social and Cultural Covenant, the family, as the fundamental unit of society, is entitled to legal protection. The destruction of homes and urban infrastructure, coupled with the lack of immediate resettlement, has created a critical situation for the basic social and cultural rights of citizens. These actions, especially if carried out systematically, can be considered a form of unlawful collective pressure against civilians.
Violations by the Zionist Regime from the Perspective of International Humanitarian Law
Given that the Zionist regime's attacks on Iranian territory took place within the framework of an international armed conflict, all customary and treaty rules of humanitarian law, including the four Geneva Conventions and the First Additional Protocol, govern it.
1. Violation of the Principle of Distinction
The principle of distinction, as a fundamental rule of humanitarian law (Article 48 of Protocol I), requires that parties to a conflict always distinguish between civilians and combatants and between civilian and military objectives. In recent attacks, markets, shopping malls, hospitals, residential areas and schools have been widely targeted. No credible evidence has been provided of military use of these facilities by Iran; therefore, their targeting is a clear violation of this principle and, if there is mens rea, constitutes a war crime under Article 8 of the Rome Statute.
2. Violation of the principle of proportionality
According to Articles 51(5)(b) and 57(2)(b) of Protocol I, an attack is prohibited if the likelihood of civilian casualties or damage is greater than the anticipated military advantage. In attacks on energy facilities, towns or populated areas, even assuming military objectives, the collateral damage has far exceeded the anticipated military advantage.
3. Violation of the principle of precaution in attacks
Article 57 of Protocol I obliges states to take the necessary precautions to protect civilian lives in the planning and execution of military operations; among these, one can mention the selection of means and methods of attack that cause less damage and prior warning if possible. In the attacks of the Zionist regime, no prior warning had been given to the residents of the target areas. Also, low-precision drones and powerful missiles have been used in densely populated urban areas, which indicates a complete disregard for the principle of precaution. According to the interpretations of the International Committee of the Red Cross, such negligence, even in the case of legitimate targeting, can give rise to international responsibility.
4. Attacks on critical civilian infrastructure
According to Article 52(2) of Protocol I, only infrastructure that plays a direct role in military operations may be targeted. However, the Israeli regime has targeted critical installations, including oil refineries, electricity transmission centers, fuel tanks, water supply lines, and telecommunications facilities. Such attacks, despite the military justifications provided, have disrupted the lives of millions of civilians. The destruction of energy and water resources has had a devastating impact not only on public health and sanitation, but also on food and economic security. In light of the principles set out in the UN reports on the “Protection of Critical Infrastructure in War Time”, these actions violate fundamental humanitarian rights.
5. Attack on nuclear facilities
According to Article 56 of Additional Protocol I, nuclear facilities containing dangerous materials shall not be the target of attack, except in cases of military necessity. In recent attacks, some of these facilities have either been directly targeted or explosions have occurred near them that could lead to widespread radiological contamination. An attack on peaceful nuclear facilities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency poses a serious threat to regional and global security and would have widespread environmental and humanitarian consequences that extend beyond the borders of Iran. Such actions result from a lack of responsibility and adherence to international law and endanger the lives of millions of people.
6. Intimidation of the civilian population
Article 51(2) of Protocol I explicitly prohibits the use of violence or the threat of violence to create terror among civilians. The use of loud night-time attacks, the movement of lethal drones over urban areas without prior warning, and the selection of unexpected targets such as schools or markets all constitute a systematic approach to destabilizing the psyche and public will of Iranian society. Such approaches are contrary to fundamental principles of human dignity and have lasting psychological effects.
Your Excellency,
What is clearly evident is that the actions and aggressions of the Zionist regime are not only a clear violation of international human rights documents and obligations, but also contrary to the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Geneva Conventions, Security Council resolutions, and statements of the Agency’s General Conference, and are recognized as a clear example of aggression and war crimes.
These actions go beyond an attack against an independent member state of the United Nations; they are a direct violation of the foundations of the international legal order, the Charter of the United Nations, the global non-proliferation regime, and the credibility of international institutions such as the International Atomic Energy Agency. These crimes are a clear violation of the fundamental principles of human rights, respect for the sovereignty of states, the prohibition of the use of force, and the need for international accountability and responsibility.
Also, the explicit and confessed role of some Western officials in providing intelligence, equipment, and political support for these actions places those countries in the position of complicity in the crime and responsibility for the consequences of these crimes. Providing weapons, providing intelligence support, and political support to a regime that has publicly accepted responsibility for these attacks is a gross violation of peremptory rules of international law and provides grounds for the international responsibility of its supporters.
Mr. High Commissioner
The long-standing and continuous crimes of the Zionist occupying regime against the oppressed Palestinian people, the repeated violations against the sovereignty of the countries of the region, and the possession of undeclared weapons of mass destruction have caused the Middle East region to become, since the establishment of this regime, a focus of chronic instability and a permanent threat to global peace and security.
Now is the time for the international community to act responsibly and decisively: the Zionist regime must completely disarm from all weapons of mass destruction, be placed under serious and effective international supervision, and be held accountable for its illegal and criminal actions.
Unfortunately, the United Nations Security Council, due to the unconditional support of some permanent members for the Zionist regime, has not only failed to take effective action to stop this, but has also been unable to issue a resolution of condemnation. This situation has effectively rendered the Council’s deterrent role ineffective and undermined global trust in it.
Furthermore, the recent attacks by the Zionist regime against Iran were deliberate, planned, and carried out with the full support of some permanent members of the Security Council. This support, along with the inaction of the international community, has paved the way for further impudence by the regime’s warmongering leaders, including its current prime minister, who is under consideration by the International Criminal Court for an arrest warrant on charges of war crimes.
The result of this situation is the formation of a “sense of impunity” among the perpetrators of these crimes. The criminals, who consider themselves emboldened by the political and military support of some Western powers, as well as the silence of international institutions, are now pursuing their attacks on Iran as a new link in the chain of their aggression and destabilizing actions; a regime that has so far committed gross violations of international law with complete impunity, without any punishment or accountability.
Your Excellency,
The Zionist regime, which has a long history of violating international law and committing war crimes, has now crossed all red lines. The international community must not allow these crimes to remain unanswered and unpunished.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, relying on its legitimate right to defend its sovereignty, nation, and national security, as recognized in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, has and will continue to defend itself resolutely. Without a doubt, the Zionist regime will deeply regret its dangerous aggression and strategic mistake.
In this context, the High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran, while strongly condemning these aggressions and criminal acts, once again emphasizes Iran’s inherent right to self-defense and expects from you, as the highest human rights official of the United Nations:
1. Condemn the attacks carried out by the Zionist regime on the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran in an explicit and open manner.
2. Utilize all the capacities of institutions, international human rights mechanisms and responsible countries to stop the Zionist regime’s war, killing and terror machine;
3. Pursue the legal and international responsibility of the perpetrators, facilitators and supporters of these illegal actions with seriousness and urgency.
The lack of accountability for such crimes, at a time when the world is increasingly emphasizing the principle of accountability and combating impunity, will not only undermine the fundamental principles of human rights, but will also cause serious damage to the ideals, values and lofty goals of the international community.
It is essential that all governments, international institutions, and especially the UN human rights mechanisms, take immediate, effective, and coordinated action against this unprecedented adventure that has threatened global peace and security.
Naser Seraj
Secretary General of the High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran