In a letter to UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, deputy for international affairs of Iran’s Judiciary and secretary of the High Council for Human Rights Nasser Seraj condemned the war crimes committed by the Israeli regime and the United States against Iran, while also protesting UNICEF’s failure to adopt an appropriate position on war crimes against Iranian children during the recent war of aggression.

He called on UNICEF to explicitly and strongly condemn unlawful and human rights–violating attacks by the US and the Zionist regime against Iranian children.

Seraj stated that the Iranian people witnessed one of the most bitter violations of human rights and humanitarian law in the region during a 40-day imposed war. He said the Israeli and US forces targeted civilian sites in Iran, resulting in the deaths and injuries of thousands of citizens, including a significant number of children.

He said that, based on documented domestic and international reports, residential areas, schools, scientific centers, universities, workplaces, production facilities, healthcare and service centers, railways, bridges, roads, transportation hubs, border terminals, and even aircraft carrying humanitarian medical aid were targeted in the US-Israeli attacks that were indiscriminate and contrary to the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.

Referring to a deadly military attack on an elementary school in Iran’s southern city of Minab on February 28, Seraj said that on the first day of the offensive, the school was deliberately struck multiple times by missiles launched by US forces, calling the nature of the attack unprecedented in recent history. He cited figures indicating that dozens of children, teachers, parents, and other civilians were killed in the strike, adding that the US forces have acknowledged the intentional nature of the strike.

Despite the scale of the tragedy, UNICEF has merely expressed concern instead of condemning it, which is surprising given the organization’s mandate to protect children’s rights and dignity, Seraj stated. He further noted that Iranian children have not only been direct victims but have also suffered psychological trauma, displacement, and deprivation of education and healthcare.

He emphasized that the failure of UNICEF to condemn the US-Israeli strikes on Iranian children has caused deep disappointment among the Iranian people and would not be forgotten. Expressing regret over the organization’s performance, he cited figures indicating that about 383 children were killed and 2,115 others injured during the US-Israeli war of aggression, including infants and minors of various age groups.

Seraj called on UNICEF to clearly and strongly condemn the unlawful attacks against Iranian children and to organize immediate psychological, medical, and educational support for affected children.

The official concluded by warning that silence and inaction in the face of such war crimes would undermine the credibility and standing of international institutions and remain in their historical record.