UNITED NATIONS – Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, delivered a harrowing account on March 7 of the devastating toll from US and Israeli airstrikes across Iran. At least 1,332 Iranian civilians, including women and children, have lost their lives, with thousands more wounded in the relentless bombardment.
Iravani cited data from the Iranian Red Crescent Society, revealing over 180 children killed nationwide and damage to more than 20 schools. Speaking to journalists at UN headquarters in New York, he accused the US and Israel of deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, crossing every conceivable red line in their military campaign.
“These are indiscriminate attacks on densely populated residential areas and critical civilian facilities,” Iravani stated. “Such acts constitute clear war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
The ambassador detailed strikes on 13 healthcare facilities and, on Thursday, assaults on civilian sports and recreation sites in Tehran and other cities, claiming the lives of over 18 female athletes and injuring nearly 100 others.
Iravani dismissed US-Israel claims of precision strikes on military targets alone as baseless. “Their objective is evident: to sow terror among civilians, perpetrate massacres of innocents, and maximize destruction and suffering,” he charged.
Invoking Article 51 of the UN Charter, Iran affirms its right to self-defense until the aggression ceases. “Our response is legal, necessary, and proportionate, targeting only the aggressors’ military positions,” he emphasized. Iran seeks no war but will defend its sovereignty, people, territory, and independence at all costs.
Responding to former US President Trump’s comments on Iran’s leadership succession, Iravani called it a blatant violation of the UN Charter’s principle of non-interference in internal affairs. Iran will permit no foreign meddling.
Iravani urged all UN member states to condemn this aggression and war crimes, demanding immediate action from the Security Council to halt the attacks threatening regional and global peace.