Ukraine’s attack on Iranian vessel violates states’ obligations to protect human life: Top rights body

In a statement released on Sunday, the council said targeting a commercial ship and endangering the lives of civilians has serious humanitarian consequences and demonstrates a clear disregard for the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law and the international obligations of states to protect the lives and security of individuals.

The full text of the statement is as follows:

In the Name of God

The High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns the military attack by Ukraine on an Iranian merchant vessel in the Caspian Sea, which resulted in the death of one of the vessel’s crew members and the injury of another, and considers it an illegal act, contrary to the fundamental principles of international law, and a clear violation of the fundamental right to life of human beings.

Targeting a merchant vessel and endangering the lives of civilians constitute an unjustifiable act that result in grave humanitarian consequences and demonstrates a blatant disregard for the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law and for States' international obligations to protect the lives and security of individuals. 

The High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes that the right to life, as one of the most fundamental human rights, must never be sacrificed for political or military objectives or in the course of inter-State conflicts. Any deliberate or reckless act that places the lives of defenseless individuals and civilian personnel in the maritime transport sector at risk warrants the strongest condemnation by the international community and the pursuit of accountability for those responsible.

This act, in addition to violating the principles of the Charter of the United Nations concerning the prohibition of the use of force and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of States, constitutes a threat to the safety of navigation, regional stability, and international peace and security. The transformation of international waterways into battlefield for military operations and the targeting of merchant vessels represent a dangerous course of conduct that may give rise to far-reaching humanitarian and security consequences.

The Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates that it has not interfered in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and has always emphasized the need to resolve disputes through dialogue, respect for international law, and refrain from resorting to force. However, the attack on the merchant vessel of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Caspian Sea, in addition to being a clear violation of the fundamental rules of international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter, is also a dangerous act aimed at expanding the scope of the conflict and threatening regional and international peace and security. The High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran calls on the United Nations Security Council, the Human Rights Council, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and all responsible international governments and institutions to categorically condemn this act against a merchant vessel and its civilian passengers, avoiding any selective approach.

The High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran, while expressing its sympathy to the family of the martyr of this incident and wishing health to the injured, calls on the United Nations, the Human Rights Council and all relevant international mechanisms to show sensitivity towards this illegal act and to adopt a responsible stance, to pave the way for investigating the dimensions of this incident and holding its perpetrators accountable.

Silence in the face of violations of fundamental human rights, especially when the victims are civilians, will weaken the international legal system and create immunity for human rights violators. The international community must protect the right to life of humans against any violent and illegal act with an independent and non-selective approach.

The High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes that the Islamic Republic of Iran, within the framework of the principles and rules of international law, while defending the legitimate rights of the Iranian nation, will seriously pursue the legal and international follow-up of this action and demand accountability of its perpetrators./irna