GENEVA (AFP): Iran declared at the United Nations on Monday that it would not bow to what it described as “lawless aggression,” warning that millions of its citizens face serious threats due to ongoing US and Israeli military actions.
Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Iran’s ambassador Ali Bahreini criticized Washington and Tel Aviv, accusing them of endangering the lives of roughly 90 million Iranians through what he called reckless attacks. He argued that the most urgent human rights concern for Iran is the safety of its population under escalating military pressure.
Bahreini dismissed criticism of Iran’s domestic rights record, urging the council instead to focus on alleged external aggression and its consequences, including damage to cultural sites and civilian casualties. He also referenced reports of an attack on a school in Minab, which Iran attributes to US and Israeli forces an incident Washington says it is reviewing.
According to Iranian officials, more than 1,300 people have been killed and over 7,000 injured since the conflict intensified. Bahreini questioned what response would be expected from Iran under such conditions, asserting that the country would not submit to intimidation or coercion.
Meanwhile, several regional and global powers expressed concern over the escalating situation. Gulf Cooperation Council nations and Jordan condemned Iranian strikes on their territories, calling them a threat to regional stability. Russia criticized the United States and Israel, while China urged all sides to halt military actions and return to dialogue.
European countries also weighed in, with Britain calling for stability, and France emphasizing the need for a diplomatic resolution.
At the same session, UN experts raised alarm over Iran’s internal situation, pointing to a severe crackdown on protests in recent months. UN Special Rapporteur Mai Sato warned that the conflict could further worsen human rights conditions, noting that thousands of deaths linked to protests have been reported by civil society groups.
She stressed that violence against protesters reflects a broader pattern of repression and cautioned that the situation could deteriorate further if tensions continue.
