In a statement published on Thursday X, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghai emphasized the importance of December 4, which the United Nations General Assembly designated earlier this year as the International Day Against Unilateral Coercive Measures through Resolution 79/293.
“This date coincides with the adoption of the Declaration on the Right to Development (UN General Assembly Resolution 41/128) of 4 December 1986,” Baghaei pointed out.
He said unilateral coercive measures, primarily economic, financial and banking sanctions imposed without UN Security Council approval, systematically violate core human rights, including the rights to life, health, education and development, according to Press TV.
By deliberately targeting the lives and well-being of entire populations, these measures amount to crimes against humanity, the spokesperson declared, adding: “The United States must be held accountable for committing such crimes through illegal and inhumane sanctions against nationals of developing countries, including Iran.”
The United States has maintained broad illegal sanctions against Iran for decades, citing unfounded concerns about Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program.
The United States under President Donald Trump reinstated tough sanctions against Iran in May 2018 after unilaterally withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal, even though the country was in full compliance with the terms of the agreement.
Sanctions have closed financial channels that could be used to provide essential medicines, materials and medical equipment to Iran.
Although the United States and its Western allies claim humanitarian supplies are exempt from sanctions, tens of thousands of patients have died or become seriously ill in Iran for years due to lack of access to essential medicines.
Iranian officials have consistently argued that these measures collectively punish civilians and impede the country’s socio-economic development.
The new international day was officially established by the United Nations General Assembly in June 2025, reflecting growing calls from the Non-Aligned Movement and several developing countries to address what they called the harmful humanitarian impact of unilateral sanctions.
Iranian authorities used the opportunity to reiterate their long-held position that these measures violate international law and the United Nations Charter, and called on the international community to step up efforts to eliminate them.
MNA