In a fiery address to the United Nations Human Rights Council, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi accused Israel of launching an unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Iran, calling it a blatant violation of international law and a direct attack on diplomacy.
Araqchi told the council that Israel's surprise military assault, which began in the early hours of Friday, June 13, has killed and injured dozens of Iranians, including off-duty military personnel, university professors, and civilians. "This is an unjust war imposed on my people... when Israel perpetrated a mix of unlawful and criminal operations," he insisted.
He said residential areas, public infrastructures, hospitals, health centres, the foreign ministry, and nuclear facilities were deliberately targeted — a move he described as a grave war crime with potential for environmental and radiological disaster.
'Israel attacked during active diplomacy'
"We were attacked in the middle of an ongoing diplomatic process," Araqchi revealed. “On June 15, we were scheduled to hold talks with the United States to finalize a promising agreement regarding our peaceful nuclear program. It was a betrayal of diplomacy.”
Araqchi condemned the Israeli actions as an unprecedented blow to the foundation of international law and the UN system, specifically referencing Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the sovereignty of any state.
"This was not just an attack on Iran — it was an attack on the very foundation of the international law system," he warned. “We need action now. Otherwise, the whole UN-based international law system would corrode badly.”
No talks with US until Israeli attacks stop
While stressing Iran's continued commitment to dialogue with European powers, including ongoing talks with Britain, France, and Germany in Geneva, Araqchi made it clear that there will be no negotiations with the United States unless Israel immediately halts its military aggression.
"The United States is a party to this aggression," he told reporters in Geneva. "We cannot negotiate peace with a partner that is complicit in war."
No missile program talks
Araqchi also firmly rejected any suggestion that Iran’s missile program would be part of the discussions.
“Our negotiations are limited strictly to the nuclear file,” he clarified during an interaction with the media before his address. “Our defensive capabilities are not up for debate.”
Araqchi emphasized that Iran will defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity at all costs. He invoked his personal history, stating, “This is a call from someone who has allocated his whole life to dialogue and diplomacy, but who is also a veteran of an imposed war by the [former president of Iraq] Saddam [Hussein’s] regime and knows how to defend his beloved motherland.”
Araqchi also suggested that many countries may distance themselves from Israel after witnessing what he called Iran’s justified and proportionate response.
Israel objects to Iran's address
Israel's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva has raised "vehement objection" to Iran addressing the Human Rights Council ahead of talks with European counterparts in Geneva to try to de-escalate the conflict, according to a letter seen by Reuters.
"Affording the Iranian foreign minister the floor before this body continues to undermine the council's credibility and constitutes a blatant betrayal of the many victims of this regime worldwide," Daniel Meron said in a letter addressed to council president Jurg Lauber.
In the letter, Meron accuses Iran of using the council as a international stage to "promote the regime's despotic campaign."
On Wednesday, the Iranian Ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva addressed the council and accused Israeli attacks as representing an act of "war against humanity".
Israel began attacking Iran last Friday, saying it aimed to prevent its longtime enemy from developing nuclear weapons. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel. It says its nuclear programme is peaceful.
