UAE: Iran's treacherous and terrorist attacks targeted our vital civilian facilities

The United Arab Emirates reiterated today in a statement to the Human Rights Council in Geneva that Iran's "treacherous" and "terrorist" attacks have violated international law by targeting vital civilian areas in the region.

On the 26th day of the attacks, having been forced to withstand more than two thousand ballistic and cruise missiles and drones, the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva Jamal Al Musharrakh spoke of how Iran's "reckless behavior undermines the foundations of the international order."

Targeting several areas in the GCC linked with the US and Israel, he said: "Let us also remember that Iran’s treacherous attacks did not target the countries that declared war on it, but rather its neighbors, countries that have repeatedly called for and made strenuous efforts over the past months to avoid this escalation, based on their firm belief that military solutions generate crises and serious consequences for the region.

"What cannot be ignored in this context is the stark contradiction between Iran’s flimsy narratives about good neighborliness and its actions on the ground, including its justification for targeting civilians, infrastructure, and civilian sites—among them airports, ports, oil and tourism facilities, vital installations, stations, and residential buildings.

"This terrorist aggression resulted in the deaths of three members of our armed forces while performing their national duty, the killing of six civilians, and the injury of 166 people of 29 different nationalities.

"Furthermore, the repercussions of these brutal attacks extend beyond the region, as their continuation threatens navigation in vital waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz, undermines the stability of energy markets and global supply chains, and increases economic and social pressures, directly impacting people’s rights to security and development.

“We call upon this esteemed Council today to take a firm step towards condemning human rights violations resulting from Iran’s illegitimate attacks on countries that are considered pillars and partners of peace in the region."

In his concluding remarks, His Excellency Al Musharrakh said: “From this platform, we emphasise that the treacherous Iranian attacks have confirmed the strength of our institutions, the resilience of our national system, the unity of our society, and the determination of our people."