TEHRAN – Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson reiterated that unilateral sanctions amount to “crimes against humanity” and insisted the United States must take responsibility for imposing illegal and inhumane measures.
Esmail Bacaei, a spokesperson for the ministry, made the comments in a post about X to commemorate December 4, which the United Nations designated as the “International Day Against Unilateral Coercive Measures.” Mr. Baqai also cited UN General Assembly resolution 79/293, noting that this date coincides with the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Right to Development under resolution 41/128 on 4 December 1986.
Mr. Bakuai argued that unilateral coercive measures, including economic, financial and banking sanctions, violate fundamental human rights and deprive people of the right to national development, life, health and education. He added that the act, which endangers the well-being and lives of the entire population, amounts to a “crime against humanity.”
He stressed that the United States must respond to “illegal and inhumane” sanctions targeting developing countries, including Iran.
Iran’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations echoed these concerns, warning that unilateral coercive measures are a serious violation of international law and a violation of human rights.
“Unilateral coercive measures are one of the most difficult challenges and a clear violation of international law and the core principles of the UN Charter, in particular the equality of sovereignty and non-intervention,” Amir Saeed Iravani said in a statement to the UN General Assembly on Thursday.
He added that these measures have been repeatedly condemned by the General Assembly as impeding the realization of human rights, including the right to development, and have a negative impact on international relations, trade, investment and cooperation.
Mr. Irabani said the rapid escalation of these “illegal measures” is inflicting severe hardship on targeted countries, depriving civilians of their fundamental rights and causing widespread suffering.
“The unprecedented and alarming intensification of these measures has caused severe economic hardship and human suffering, and deprived many independent countries of inalienable rights, including the right to development,” he said. “These measures primarily target the daily lives of civilians and impose significant, disproportionate and indiscriminate human costs on the entire population, including women, children and the elderly.”
He noted that the humanitarian impact is particularly severe as sanctions often impede access to medicines, medical equipment and essential goods, and the impact is exacerbated during health emergencies such as those seen during the pandemic.
“Needless to say, unilateral coercive measures impose appalling living conditions on all citizens of the target countries and amount to crimes against humanity,” Iravani declared.
The ambassador said Iran will continue its efforts to counter these measures and uphold the principles of the United Nations Charter “based on international law and not on coercion or intimidation.” He also called on UN Secretary-General António Guterres to appoint a special adviser on unilateral coercive measures.
Despite last-ditch efforts by Russia and China to maintain diplomacy, the UN Security Council failed to reach an agreement on September 26. Two days later, the E3 and the US declared sanctions reinstated and called on UN member states to implement them.
Tehran categorically rejects the claims, saying it was the United States and its European allies who undermined the 2015 nuclear deal by not keeping their promises. Iranian officials insist that U.N. member states are under no obligation to comply with unilateral and illegal measures.
Iran’s position is rooted in UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which approved the 2015 nuclear deal and formally lifted previous sanctions on Tehran’s nuclear program. Iranian officials stress that the resolution establishes a clear, time-limited framework under which all nuclear-related restrictions will permanently expire on October 18, 2025. Resolution 2231 itself expired on Friday.
The United States also launched a military invasion against Iran in collusion with the Israeli regime.
On June 13, Israel launched a blatant and unprovoked act of aggression against Iran, sparking a 12-day war that left at least 1,064 people dead in the country, including military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians.
The United States committed a grave violation of international law by bombing three Iranian nuclear facilities and entering the war.