Text of the Letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran**:
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
With reference to the letter dated 13 June 2025 (S/2025/379) regarding the aggressive act by the Israeli regime against the Islamic Republic of Iran between 13 June 2025 and 24 June 2025, and other relevant correspondence, this letter underscores the urgent need for the United Nations Security Council to fulfill its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
Since the onset of the Israeli regime’s aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran on 13 June 2025, which constitutes a flagrant violation of Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, numerous residential areas, civilians, and civilian infrastructure have been deliberately targeted, representing a clear breach of international law. While the full extent of the damage is still under assessment, several hospitals and relief centers have been attacked, constituting a grave violation of international humanitarian law. Additionally, energy facilities have been targeted to disrupt the daily lives of civilians.
Nuclear facilities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the cities of Qom, Arak, Natanz, and Isfahan have also been attacked by the Israeli regime and the United States, in clear violation of the UN Charter, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), IAEA statutes, and relevant resolutions.
These unilateral attacks against Iran violate several fundamental principles of international law, including:
– The right to life, as enshrined in Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
– The international prohibition on the use of force, as outlined in Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and customary international law (UN General Assembly Resolution 2625 (XXV), 1970: Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations), which holds the status of jus cogens;
– The prohibition of aggression (UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 (XXIX), 1974: Definition of Aggression);
– The obligation to refrain from intervening in the internal affairs of another state (UN General Assembly Resolution 2625 (XXV), 1970: Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations);
– The obligation to respect the sovereignty of another state;
– The right of the Iranian nation to self-determination, as provided in Article 1(2) of the UN Charter and Article 1(1) common to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
In response to this aggression, a significant number of UN member states, as well as regional and international organizations, have strongly condemned the aggression and attacks as a serious violation of the UN Charter. These include: the Non-Aligned Movement through its statement dated 13 June 2025; the Shanghai Cooperation Organization through its statement dated 17 June 2025; the BRICS group through its statement dated 25 June 2025; the Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter through statements dated 14 and 24 June 2025; the League of Arab States through its statement dated 21 June 2025; and the Gulf Cooperation Council through its statement dated 17 June 2025. Additionally, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, through its resolution dated 22 June 2025, strongly condemned these aggressions.
While these actions represent the minimum requirement for upholding the rule of law at the international level, particularly in light of the universal obligation of states not to recognize violations of peremptory norms of international law, it is imperative and undeniable that the Security Council fulfills its primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, as mandated under Article 24(1) of the UN Charter.
Therefore, in light of the current circumstances and to uphold the provisions of the UN Charter, and given that the Security Council is obligated under Article 39 to determine the existence of an act of aggression by the Israeli regime against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran, we formally request that the Security Council recognize the Israeli regime and the United States of America as initiators of the aggressive act and acknowledge their consequent responsibilities, including the payment of reparations and compensation for damages.
Furthermore, the Security Council must hold the perpetrators of this aggression accountable and take measures to prevent the recurrence of such heinous and grave crimes, thereby fulfilling its duty to maintain international peace and security.
It should be noted that political and military leaders who order the commission of an act of aggression bear individual criminal responsibility for the international crime of aggression under customary international law.
It is further emphasized that the aforementioned aggressive act constitutes a brazen assault on the foundational pillars of international law. Overlooking this act and its legal consequences would gravely undermine the credibility of the United Nations system, pose a real threat to the rule of law in the international arena, and pave the way for lawlessness in future international relations in our region and the global community.
It would be greatly appreciated if you would instruct that this letter be circulated as a document of the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew the assurances of my highest consideration.
Seyyed Abbas Araghchi
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran
