Coinciding with the American Human Rights Review and Disclosure Week, at the “Tenth International Conference on American Human Rights from the Perspective of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution” on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, Naser Seraj, the Vice President of the Judiciary for International Affairs and the Secretary General of the High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran while expressing condolences on the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Imam Hossein (PBUH) and his companions and the martyrdom of the commanders of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, nuclear scientists, and a group of civilians, including women, children, and the elderly of our country, as a result of the Zionist regime's aggression against Iran, stated: “The High Council for Human Rights has submitted a report to international and human rights institutions and forums almost every day during the 12-day war”.
American Human Rights; From Theory to Practice
Seraj continued by pointing out five important areas of human rights violations by the United States and said: “The first area is American human rights; from theory to practice. American human rights are not a universal and humane concept but a tool to justify domineering policies and violations of the rights of others. The United States has been one of the biggest violators of human rights in the past decades, including in occupying the countries, in killing and torture, and in implementing oppressive sanctions against independent countries like Iran. At the same time, this country claims to support human rights, but these claims are mostly propaganda and prevent the widespread violations of human rights by the United States itself from being seen”.
He added: “Human rights violations are also evident within the United States, including the situation of prisoners, racial discrimination and structural racism, and widespread violence against women and minorities. These issues demonstrate a profound contradiction between America's human rights slogans and its social realities”.
The Secretary General of the High Council for Human Rights stated: “Theoretically, American human rights have been formed as part of American politics and power projection. International law and human rights in the United States have become a branch of political science that is used to justify aggressive and hegemonic actions.
This approach has caused human rights to become a political tool, not a humanitarian one”.He also said: “In general, American human rights, in theory and practice, are a combination of human rights claims and widespread violations, both within the United States and internationally. This situation is the result of America's exceptionalism, racism, and economic and political interests, which have turned human rights into a tool for dominating and imposing American policies”.
American Human Rights from the Perspective of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution
The Secretary General of the High Council for the Human Rights called the second area as American human rights from the perspective of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution and added: “American human rights have been severely criticized and rejected from the perspective of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution. He has repeatedly emphasized that the US claim of supporting human rights is merely an excuse and a tool to deceive public opinion and exert political pressure, and that the US does not actually believe in human rights, but rather defends the interests of its large companies and capitalists and the US regime around the world”.
He continued: “The Leader of the Revolution believes that the United States itself is the biggest violator of human rights and in practice tramples on human rights. Clear examples of these human rights violations include supporting dictatorial regimes in Arab countries, suppressing the Shiites of Bahrain, bombing the innocent people of Yemen with the help of Saudi Arabia, military occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq, and killing hundreds of thousands of people in these countries. Also, the United States continues to severely discriminate against blacks and people of color within its own country, and police violence and numerous crimes against them cannot be ignored”.
Seraj clarified: “He has also referred to the crimes of the United States in supporting the Pahlavi regime in Iran and the economic war and maximum pressure against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and has considered these cases to be examples of American violations of human rights. The Leader of the Revolution says that American human rights mean supporting oppression, discrimination, and violating freedoms inside and outside the United States”.
Reasons for America's instrumental abuse of human rights
The Secretary General of the High Council for Human Rights stated that the third area in this regard is the reasons for America's instrumental abuse of human rights, saying that: “The main reason that makes America turn human rights into a tool for its own interests are:
- Strengthening public diplomacy and soft power: By claiming to be a defender of human rights, America is trying to create a justified and legitimate image in the world in order to expand its influence and soft power. This appearance of human rights helps America justify and legitimize its policies on the global level.
- Justification of ambitious policies and military interventions: The United States uses human rights to justify military attacks, sanctions, and political pressure against its rivals and opponents. For example, the invasion against Iraq and Afghanistan and the extensive sanctions against Iran have been justified by the claim of protecting human rights, while these actions have led to widespread human rights violations.
- Pressure on rival and opposing countries: The United States uses accusations of human rights violations against its rivals, such as China, Russia, and Iran, to weaken and passively undermine them, thereby consolidating its political and economic dominance. This approach has led it to turn a blind eye to its allies who violate human rights.
- Defining human rights based on national and political interests: The United States interprets human rights norms and definitions in a way that is consistent with its own political interests and goals, and ignores or abandons human rights obligations whenever its national interests require it.
- Tool of bargaining and pressure: Human rights in American politics have become a tool for political bargaining and pressure on independent countries in order to impose its demands and interests on them.
- Propaganda cover for human rights violations: The United States, using the media under its control, presents itself as the sole defender of human rights, while in practice it is the biggest violator of human rights and commits widespread crimes and violations at home and abroad”.
Some of the most important examples of human rights violations by the United States
Seraj continued by addressing some of the most important examples of human rights violations by the United States as the fourth area in his speech and said: “The United States of America, with less than 5% of the world's population, houses about 20% of the world's total prison population. This situation, along with the high rate of violence, racial discrimination, and structural problems in the judicial and police systems, has always been criticized by human rights organizations”.
He stated: “The most important examples of human rights violations by the United States can be categorized into two areas: domestic and international. At the domestic level they include:
- Gun Violence and Inequality: The United States is known for its high rate of gun violence, which poses a threat to the safety of its citizens, especially minorities.
- Violations of Women's Rights: Violence against women, including intimate partner violence, is widespread in the United States, with one in four American women being battered.
- Racial Discrimination and Police Brutality: Targeted discrimination against blacks and other minorities by the US police and judiciary is a clear violation of human rights.
- Guantanamo Bay Detention Center and Torture: Guantanamo Bay is a symbol of human rights violations, where prisoners are held without trial and subjected to physical and psychological torture.
- Violations of the rights of children and indigenous people: Numerous cases of violations of the rights of children, indigenous people, and refugees have been reported within the US.
- Suppression of freedom of expression and peaceful assemblies: The illegal use of force against protesters and restrictions on freedom of expression are also examples of human rights violations.
He added: “At international level, the most important examples of human rights violations by the United States as follows:
- Unilateral and economic sanctions: The imposition of extensive sanctions against nations such as Iran and Afghanistan, which has limited access to medicine, food, and other basic needs.
- Support for the crimes of the Zionist regime in Palestine: The United States' unconditional support for the Zionist regime in the massacre of Palestinian civilians, especially in Gaza and the West Bank, including the veto of international resolutions to stop these massacres.
- Assassination of foreign commanders: The targeted assassination of General Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in Iraq, which is known as a clear violation of human rights and the sovereignty of countries.
- Support for regional wars: The United States' support for the wars in Yemen and other regions by providing weapons and logistical support to military coalitions, as well as supporting the criminal Zionist regime in its brutal support for Gaza, Lebanon, and the Islamic Republic of Iran”.
Special support and direct involvement of the US in the wars imposed by the Iraqi Baath regime and the Zionist regime against Iran
The Vice President of the Judiciary for International Affairs continued: “The US has always presented itself as a defender of human rights and publishes annual reports on the human rights situation in various countries, including Iran. These reports usually accuse Iran of violating human rights and talk about the restrictions and pressures on women and minorities. In the eight-year imposed war of Iraq against Iran (1980-1988), the United States and some Western countries, including France, Germany, and England, openly or covertly supported the Iraqi Baath regime. This support included financial, arms, and political aid. While Iraq committed widespread human rights violations, including bombing cities, using chemical weapons against civilians, and inhumane treatment against Iranian prisoners, the United States and its allies, instead of condemning these actions, supported Saddam. Western media and even official authorities later admitted to these human rights violations by the Baath regime, but American support for this regime continued”.
Referring to the prominent and decisive role of the United States in the 12-day war of the Zionist regime against Iran, Seraj added: “This war, which began with the Zionist regime's attack on Iran, was actually carried out with the full coordination and leadership of the United States, and the Zionist regime acted merely as the main actor but under the supervision and support of Washington. From an analytical perspective, the United States not only provided extensive intelligence, weapons, and operational support to the Zionist regime, but also, after the Zionist regime's initial failures in achieving its goals (destroying Iran's nuclear program, weakening its missile capabilities, and changing the structure of Iran's Military Command), it directly entered the war and attacked Iran's nuclear facilities”.
He emphasized: “This direct American entry into the war reflected the structural and military weakness of the Zionist regime, as well as Washington's fear of this conflict turning into a long-term, attritional war that could change the regional balance of power in favor of Iran. In summary, it can be said that the United States played a command role, provided logistical and weapons support, and ultimately direct military intervention in the 12-day war against Iran, defining this war not simply as a regional conflict but as a coordinated and strategic operation aimed at restraining and weakening Iran at the regional and trans-regional levels”.
Seraj also described some examples of human rights and humanitarian rights violations as a result of the United States' full support for the Zionist regime in the recent 12-day war:
- Right to Life: “In the recent attacks by the Zionist regime against the territory of Iran, hundreds of people, including women, children, the elderly, patients, scientists, and athletes, have lost their lives. These attacks were carried out without observing the principle of distinction between military and civilian targets and are a clear example of arbitrary deprivation of the right to life. The targeting of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting building (IRIB), which is a home to journalists and media workers, as well as the bombing of Kermanshah Hospital, Tehran Red Crescent building, and places near Heart Hospital on Shariati Street, which are medical and relief centers, demonstrate complete disregard for the obligation to respect the dignity of human life”.
- The right to personal security: “The right to physical and mental security includes not only the protection of life but also the protection of the mental health of individuals. The repeated threat of bombing people’s homes and creating an atmosphere of mental terror has caused anxiety, chronic fear and widespread psychological trauma. Attacks on medical and relief facilities not only threaten the physical health of individuals, but also directly damage their mental health, as the sick and injured lose access to essential care and their families are exposed to anxiety and despair, in a way that is clearly a violation of the right to health in accordance with Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights”.
- Violation of the principle of distinction: “The principle of distinction is one of the fundamental pillars of humanitarian law, clearly stated in Articles 43 (2) and 48 of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions. This principle is based on the fact that the parties to the conflict are obliged to distinguish completely between military personnel and civilians, as well as between military objectives and civilian objects, in all their military actions. However, in the attacks by the Zionist regime, Kermanshah Hospital, Tehran Red Crescent building, and Evin Prison Hospital, which are known as relief and medical centers and whose activities are completely civilian, have been targeted as military objectives. These attacks demonstrate a lack of distinction between military and civilian targets and a failure to observe the principle of distinction, which is contrary to the humanitarian law obligations of the parties to the conflict and has led to widespread unnecessary casualties and damage to civilians”.
- Violation of protections provided to journalists and the media and violation of the right to freedom of expression: According to Article 79 of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, as well as interpretations by human rights institutions of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, civilian journalists present in conflict zones are entitled to full protection as civilians, provided that they do not directly participate in hostilities. A direct attack on the IRIB news building, where reporters, cameramen, editors, technical and editorial staff were working, in addition to violating the principle of separation, is a clear violation of international obligations to protect the media and journalists”.
Mandates and the approach of the High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran towards exposing American human rights violations and pursuing the rights of Iranian victims
Seraj introduced the fifth area of his speech as exposing American human rights violations and pursuing the rights of Iranian victims, stating that: The High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran was established based on the regulations of the Judiciary dated September 18, 2001, and in 2005 with the approval of the Supreme National Security Council it became an institution beyond only one Power. Among the main mandates of the HCHR related to the issue of American human rights are "identifying cases of human rights violations in other countries, especially arrogant regimes, and declaring an appropriate position against them", "pursuing and confronting the crimes of terrorist groups in the international arena and coordinating judicial measures to confront terrorism", "monitoring the human rights situation inside and outside the country, especially in the face of Islamophobia and human rights violations in the name of fighting against terrorism".
He emphasized: “The HCHR of the Islamic Republic of Iran has a specific mandate and approach in exposing American human rights abuses and pursuing the rights of Iranian victims, which include the following:
- Exposing of human rights violations committed by the US: The HCHR continuously investigates and exposes human rights violations committed by the US government, both domestically and internationally. These include violations of minority rights, systematic racial discrimination, violence against women, violations of children's rights, violent treatment against refugees, and oppressive economic sanctions that have particularly negatively affected the Iranian people.
- Pursuing the rights of Iranian victims: The HCHR, while condemning US anti-human rights actions, including military attacks such as the attack on the Fordow nuclear facility, reports these cases to international authorities such as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and calls for accountability and justice for the victims. The HCHR also uses the capacity of non-governmental organizations to activate them to file complaints in quasi-judicial human rights mechanisms at the international level. A recent example of this action can be seen in the filing of a complaint by the Iranian Thalassemia Association to the complaint mechanism of the Special Rapporteur on the Negative Effects of Unilateral Coercive Measures on the Enjoyment of Human Rights.
- Taking demanding position: The Islamic Republic of Iran has adopted a demanding approach in recent years in confronting the West and has changed itself from a position of responder to questioner. This change in approach is derived from upstream documents such as the Seventh National Development Plan and the Document on the Transformation and Excellence of the Judiciary. The HCHR has proposed the establishment of a permanent secretariat for the American Human Rights Week so that countries affected in this area can come together and participate in joint demandings.
- Documenting and presenting reports: In addition to exposing human rights violations, the HCHR and groups active in Iran document evidence and legal analyses and present them to international institutions to provide a basis for accountability and justice.
- Legislation and legal confrontation: Within the framework of domestic laws such as the “Act to Combat Human Rights Violations and Adventurous and Terrorist Acts of the United States,” the Islamic Republic of Iran is also pursuing legal and regulatory measures to confront American human rights violations.
Seraj concluded by saying: “In general, the HCHR of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with an active and demanding approach, while exposing instances of human rights violations of the United States, pursues the rights of Iranian victims in international and domestic forums, and tries to make the voices of these victims heard around the world by creating media, legal, and diplomatic platforms”.