Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Amir Saeid Iravani sent a letter to the UN Security Council and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, stating that the US attacks on Iran's southern provinces between July 8-16 constitute war crimes.
In his letter, Iravani stressed that the US attacks violated Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and were contrary to the UN Charter and international humanitarian law.
Targeted regions
According to the letter, the US attacks targeted Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, Ahvaz, Chabahar, Konarak, Jask, Sirik, Iranshahr, Abu Musa Island, Greater Tunb Island, as well as the cities of Shiraz, Khorramabad, Semnan, Urmia and Hamedan on the morning of July 16.
The attacks caused extensive damage to ports, transportation networks, communication facilities, logistics centers, radar installations, coastal defense systems and other infrastructure vital to the civilian population.
Civilian casualties and war crimes
More than 40 Iranians were killed and hundreds injured in the latest wave of attacks. The victims included civilians, emergency responders, firefighters, park rangers and fishermen.
In his letter, Iravani highlighted the following incidents:
- A firefighter was killed while responding to an attack on Iranshahr Airport on July 8.
- Three family members of environmental ranger Javad Hasanzadeh were killed in an attack on a ranger station in Hajiabad district, Hormozgan province, on July 14.
- Seven soldiers were killed in a missile attack on a military garrison dormitory in the Bampur area of Iranshahr on July 15.
- The Shahid Baghaei Hospital, a children's cancer treatment center in Ahvaz, was damaged and evacuated following US airstrikes. Iravani said, 'The US attack on this hospital is a cowardly act and a war crime, targeting the most innocent and vulnerable people, children, who are bravely fighting for survival.'
Attacks on civilian infrastructure such as a wheat silo in Hoveyzeh, a mineral water production plant in Dehloran, and a maritime control tower in Chabahar were also condemned.
Trump's nuclear threat
Iravani pointed to US President Donald Trump's threat to strike Iran's bridges and power plants 'next week' and his televised remarks about bombing Iran's nuclear facilities. Trump had said, 'If it weren't for me or Bibi, especially both of us... If I hadn't hit them with a nuclear weapon, they would have had a nuclear weapon within two weeks.'
Iravani stated that this statement revealed the US President's disregard for the UN Charter, international law and the most fundamental principles of humanity.
The ambassador called on the UN Security Council to 'take urgent and effective measures to end US aggression and ensure accountability for all grave violations.' Iravani said, 'As long as the United Nations, particularly the Security Council, fails to fulfill its responsibility to maintain international peace and security, the Islamic Republic of Iran will continue to exercise all its rights under international law to protect its sovereignty, territorial integrity, people and vital interests.'
