Ambassador's Statement at UNSC Stakeout: U.S.-Israeli Regime's War Crimes

Iran's Ambassador has delivered a statement before the UN Security Council Stakeout regarding the war crimes committed by the United States and the Israeli regime against the Iranian people. The full text of the statement is as follows:

Statement by
H.E. Mr. Amir Saeid Iravani
Ambassador & Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations
Before the Security Council Stakeout

New York—2 March 2026

 

In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

 

Good afternoon. I will make a brief and clear statement.

On 28 February 2026, the United States, in full coordination with Israel, launched a second deliberate and unprovoked military attack against the Islamic Republic of Iran. This was a calculated act of aggression.

Major cities and densely populated civilian areas were targeted. Hundreds of innocent civilians lost their lives. Many more were wounded. This is a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations, especially Article 2(4), which strictly prohibits the threat or use of force against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of any State.

It is a direct assault on the foundations of international law. The Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Saturday. The facts were clear. The aggression was clear; responsibility was clear.

In a reckless and unprecedented escalation, the United States and Israel deliberately targeted the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, and many high military officials. Targeting the highest official of a sovereign UN Member State is an egregious breach of international law and a direct attack on sovereign equality. Such conduct endangers the entire international system.

The United States and the Israeli regime are deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. Schools, hospitals, Red Crescent facilities, and residential buildings were attacked.

On the first day of the aggression, a girls’ school in Minab, a small town in Hormozgan province in southern Iran, was deliberately destroyed. As a result, 165 innocent schoolgirls were martyred—I repeat: 165 innocent school girls were martyred. Their bodies were recovered from the rubble after hours of rescue efforts.

On the same day, similar attacks martyred several students in other cities, including eastern Tehran and Abyek in Qazvin province.

But just this afternoon, the Ambassador of the Israeli regime, from this very podium, resorted to lies and fabrications, shamelessly denying and ignoring the crimes committed by this regime against children and innocent civilians in Iran.

Yesterday, further strikes targeted Red Crescent buildings, Motahari, Gandi, and Khatam hospitals in Tehran, Abouzar Hospital in Ahvaz, three emergency checkpoints in Sarab, Chabahar, and Hamedan, as well as residential buildings in northern Tehran.

This morning, missiles struck a densely populated residential area in Sanandaj, in Kurdistan province. The full number of casualties is still being verified.

These acts constitute aggression. They constitute war crimes. They constitute crimes against humanity. The United Nations cannot remain silent. Accountability is not optional.

It is deeply shameful and hypocritical that on the very first day of its presidency of the Security Council, the United States convenes a high-level meeting on protecting children, technology, and education in armed conflict under the agenda item “Maintenance of international peace and security,” while at the same time launching missile strikes against Iranian cities and bombing schools and killing children. For the United States, “protecting children” and “maintaining international peace and security” clearly mean something very different from what the UN Charter provides. Words about peace and protection cannot cover acts of aggression.

Let’s make no mistake: There was no imminent threat from Iran. Our nuclear program is exclusively peaceful. We were engaged in serious diplomatic negotiations. For the second time, the United States chose force over diplomacy and violated the Charter. There are no legal grounds that justify this attack. The so-called preemptive attack has no basis in international law. The prohibition on the use of force is absolute, except in self-defense against an armed attack.

Iran is exercising its inherent right of self-defense under Article 51 of the Charter. Our response is lawful, necessary, and proportionate. We target only the military objectives of the hostile forces. We do not target civilians. We do not target the interests of neighboring States.

Under international law, every State has a duty not to allow its territory to be used for acts of aggression against another State. Member States must exercise due diligence to prevent their territory from being used by foreign forces to attack other countries.

Iran does not seek war. Iran does not seek escalation. But Iran will not surrender its sovereignty.

The issue before the international community is clear: Can a powerful State attack another sovereign Member of the United Nations with impunity? If the answer is yes, then the Charter is meaningless. If the answer is no, then this aggression must be condemned and stopped. Double standards will destroy the credibility of this Council. Silence will embolden further lawlessness.

As long as aggression continues, Iran will defend itself decisively and without hesitation. The Security Council must act—firmly, clearly, and without ambiguity.

I thank you for your kind attention.

NOTE: After the statement, Ambassador Iravani was asked the following question by a journalist:

“What was the rationale behind attacking other countries, including Iraq, the UAE, Qatar, and Iraq’s Kurdistan Region?”

The Ambassador responded:

“As I mentioned, we are not attacking the interests of our neighboring countries. We are defending ourselves and targeting the facilities, assets, and bases of the United States of America there, which are beyond the control of the host countries.”