Iranian Deputy Minister of Justice Askar Jalalian said the recent attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel are a clear violation of the U.N. Charter and condemned a strike on a school in southern Iran as a serious breach of international human rights law in an interview with China Global Television Network on Sunday.
The U.S. and Israel have been launching coordinated airstrikes against targets across Iran since Saturday, resulting in heavy casualties.
"What we witnessed yesterday in Tehran is, in fact, a clear violation of the United Nations Charter - specifically, a direct breach of the principle prohibiting the use of force. What has occurred is an extremely dangerous development in international law. This action by the Zionist regime sends a message to the world that the use of force can be normalized - and that is deeply concerning. When we look at this incident, along with other examples - including the 12-day war launched against us, it becomes clear that the United States and the Zionist regime do not have much faith in negotiation. Their belief appears to be in power as the primary means of resolving disputes. One very important message that can be drawn from these actions is the revival of an arms race in the region. Of course, under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, Iran's right to self-defense is preserved, and Iran has the legal right to defend itself and take military actions," Jalalian said of the attacks.
Addressing the strike on a school in southern Iran, Jalalian accused the United States of violating the Geneva Conventions and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, one of the most important human rights treaties in international law.
"At the outset, this incident constitutes a violation of the four Geneva Conventions and explicitly breaches the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Unfortunately, the United States is not a party to that convention. It is worth noting that the Convention on the Rights of the Child is considered one of the most important human rights treaties in international law. Iran and the Zionist regime are both parties to it, but the United States unfortunately is not," he said.
"Targeting this school constitutes a clear violation of the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions, particularly the fourth convention, as well as Article 38 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In any case, countries who respect human rights and are concerned about it should condemn this action," Jalalian said.
165 people were killed in the attack on the girls' elementary school in Iran's southern province of Hormozgan, according to local reports. Most of the victims were pupils, with teachers, school staff and students' parents also among those killed.
Iran's deputy justice minister condemns US-Israeli attacks
