Iran Urges UN Security Council to Hold Israel, US Accountable for Aggression
Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has appealed to the United Nations Security Council, urging it to identify both the Israeli regime and the United States as the originators of the recent 12-day hostilities against the Islamic Republic.
In a letter addressed to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Sunday, Araghchi formally urged the Security Council to acknowledge the Israeli regime and the United States as the instigators of the act of aggression. He called for them to be held accountable, including through compensation and reparation.
He emphasized that the Security Council must hold those responsible accountable and work to prevent the recurrence of such grave and egregious crimes in order to uphold international peace and security.
He underscored that political and military figures who authorize acts of aggression bear individual responsibility for the international crime of aggression, as dictated by customary international law.
Iran’s chief diplomat has characterized the aggressive act as a “brazen assault” on the core principles of international law. He cautioned that accepting such actions and their legal ramifications significantly weakens the credibility of the United Nations framework.
Araghchi highlighted that the situation presents a significant threat to the rule of law on an international scale and fosters a climate of lawlessness that could impact the future of international relations both regionally and globally.
In the pre-dawn hours of June 13, Israel initiated a comprehensive assault on Iranian territory, striking multiple military and nuclear installations. The attacks resulted in the deaths of numerous senior military officials, nuclear scientists, and several civilians.
On June 22, the United States collaborated with Israel in an offensive operation, targeting and bombing three Iranian nuclear facilities. This action has been widely criticized as a serious breach of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
A day after initial hostilities, Iran retaliated by launching a barrage of missiles targeting al-Udeid air base in Qatar, the most significant U.S. military installation in the West Asia region.
In a significant development, Iranian armed forces launched a series of strikes targeting Israel’s military and industrial sites, employing advanced new-generation missiles with precision accuracy. As a result, the beleaguered regime in Israel was compelled to unilaterally announce a truce on June 24.
In a letter dated June 13 to the United Nations Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council, Araghchi stated that the aggressive actions by the Israeli regime against the nation constitute a “declaration of war.”
He stated that these oppressive actions represent a significant breach of Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as an independent member of the United Nations. According to international law and humanitarian statutes, including the Geneva Conventions, they are considered acts of aggression and war crimes.
