UN Special Rapporteurs Condemn U.S. Strike on Iran, Call for Permanent End to Hostilities A group of United Nations special rapporteurs on human rights has strongly condemned the recent U.S. military attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. In a joint statement, the UN experts firmly denounced the U.S. air and sea strikes that targeted three nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—stating that “these attacks violate the fundamental principles of the international order established since 1945, including the prohibition on the aggressive use of military force, respect for national sovereignty, and the obligation to refrain from coercive intervention in the internal affairs of other nations.” They warned that U.S. political and military leaders could be held accountable for the international crime of aggression. “These attacks also pose a serious threat to human rights, including the right to life, personal security, health, a safe environment, and the Iranian people's right to self-determination,” the statement read. According to the rapporteurs, the U.S. launched 75 munitions via air and sea, inflicting extensive damage. Iran responded by launching a retaliatory strike on a U.S. base in Qatar, which caused no casualties. A fragile ceasefire appears to be in place now. Citing Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, the experts stressed that the use or threat of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state is prohibited, even when justified as preemptive self-defense. The rapporteurs emphasized that “Iran has not attacked the U.S. or Israel with nuclear weapons, nor is there any evidence suggesting it intends to do so in the near future.” They further warned that recognizing preemptive self-defense risks ushering in a disastrous era where “might makes right,” enabling powerful nations to bomb others under the guise of national security or foreign policy interests. Such actions would fuel distrust, arms races, and unstable power alliances, leading to greater instability in the Middle East and escalating global threats to human rights. The statement also referenced the IAEA’s position that nuclear facilities must never be attacked, noting that such assaults risk the release of radioactive materials with catastrophic consequences for the environment and human rights. International humanitarian law generally prohibits military strikes on nuclear facilities. Finally, the rapporteurs warned that the U.S.—a permanent member of the UN Security Council tasked with maintaining international peace—was normalizing violent aggression and undermining diplomacy, thereby seriously eroding the rule of international law. “In this moment of crisis for multilateralism,” the statement concluded, “all states must stand against such lawlessness and pressure the U.S. and Israel to uphold the universal laws of humanity.”