UN human rights experts issued a stark denunciation on 20 June 2025 of recent Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear, military, and civilian sites, warning the attacks constitute grave breaches of international law and risk escalating an already volatile conflict.

The strikes, which hit uranium enrichment facilities, air defenses, command centers, as well as residential and media buildings in Tehran and other locations, have reportedly killed dozens of civilians, including scientists, government officials, and media workers. The experts called the attacks “flagrant violations” of the UN Charter and jus cogens norms—peremptory legal rules from which no exceptions are allowed.

Israel’s justification of preventive self-defense against Iran’s alleged nuclear ambitions and terrorism does not, the experts emphasised, override the prohibition on the use of force against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes, which have damaged hospitals, residential areas, and critical infrastructure in Israel, further underline the devastating toll on civilian populations. Preliminary figures indicate at least 224 fatalities in Iran—90% civilians—and 24 civilian deaths in Israel.

“The relentless cycle of violence confirms our grave concern about the destruction and loss of life,” the experts said, urging all parties to adhere strictly to international humanitarian law, including principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution to protect civilians.

The experts expressed particular alarm at the suffering of women and children, who disproportionately bear the brunt of armed conflict. They also highlighted the catastrophic risks posed by military actions near nuclear sites, echoing warnings from the International Atomic Energy Agency about potential regional and global fallout.

The timing of the strikes, coinciding with ongoing diplomatic talks in Muscat aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, raised serious fears that the attacks were intended to undermine peace efforts. The experts warned that Israel’s actions and the subsequent escalation threaten regional stability and the broader international legal order.

“This conflict unfolds amid a wider pattern of unlawful acts by Israel, including occupation, annexation, apartheid, and violence in the West Bank and Gaza,” the experts stated, citing ongoing investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute.

They stressed that these crises must be understood as interconnected, warning that unchecked use of force risks dismantling the rules-based global system founded on sovereign equality and peaceful dispute resolution.

The UN experts called on the international community to take coordinated and principled steps to uphold international law, halt hostilities, and prevent further escalation. They urged states to respect ongoing legal proceedings against Israel and to cease arms supplies immediately.

“Ending the flow of weapons to Israel is essential to restore peace and stability,” they said. “World leaders must renew their commitment to diplomacy in line with the UN Charter. Failure to act risks dragging the entire region, and beyond, into chaos.”

HRW