In a statement, the High Council said the August 30 attack, which killed and injured Iranian defenders and civilians and damaged public and private property, constituted a grave breach of the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law.

What follows is the text of the statement:

The military attack by the United States on parts of Larak Island on the evening of Sunday, August 30, 2026, which resulted in the martyrdom and injury of a number of zealous defenders of the country and dear compatriots, as well as damage to public and private property, constitutes a clear act of aggression and a grave violation of the fundamental principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. It is also an explicit assault on the national sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

This illegal act, which continued the series of military actions by the United States against the land and people of Iran, once again demonstrated that the US government, in pursuit of its political and military objectives, openly disregards the mandatory rules and established principles of international law and shows no respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of independent states.

The High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran, while strongly condemning this aggression, considers accountability for such an act to be a matter of responsibility in the international arena and emphasizes the need to hold its perpetrators accountable and provide full compensation for the effects and damages caused by it.

The Charter of the United Nations is founded upon the principle of the sovereign equality of states and the prohibition of the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of states. The resort by one state to military force against the territory of another state, except in exceptional cases and subject to the strict conditions prescribed under international law, lacks legal legitimacy.

No state or power, regardless of its political, economic or military position, is exempt from these rules. No state may, by invoking unilateral security claims or political considerations, grant itself authorization to violate the sovereignty of another state.

Attacking the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran without a valid legal basis is a clear violation of the prohibition on the use of force and an assault on the territorial sovereignty of an independent state.

Political and security claims, whatever their nature, cannot replace a valid legal basis for the use of force. Accepting such an approach would mean accepting the dangerous logic that so-called powerful states can, whenever they perceive their interests to be threatened, set aside international rules and rely on military power to violate the sovereignty of other countries. If this logic becomes the norm, it will undermine the foundations of the rules-based international order.

At the same time, it is necessary to distinguish between the legality of the use of force and the rules governing the conduct of military operations.

Even a claim that military targets existed in the attacked area does not, in itself, constitute a license to violate the territorial sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran. From the perspective of international law, these are two separate questions: first, whether the use of force had a legal basis in the first place; and second, assuming that the rules of international humanitarian law apply, whether the operation complied with the requirements and limitations established by those rules.

Therefore, even the presence of an alleged military target cannot legitimize an initially illegal use of force, nor can it absolve those responsible of accountability for its effects and consequences if the rules governing military operations have been violated.

The martyrdom and injury of a number of Iranian defenders and compatriots, as well as the damage to public and private property caused by the attack, make the human and material dimensions of this aggression even more evident.

The victims of this attack cannot be reduced to numbers or described merely in military terms, and its consequences cannot be dismissed as a mere “side effect” of a military operation. Every human life lost as a result of an illegal act and every instance of damage inflicted on people and their property has legal consequences and cannot be disregarded for political or security considerations.

The High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes that the fundamental rules of international law, including the prohibition on the use of force and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, are not selective rules subject to the will of great powers.

It is not possible to regard one conduct in one part of the world as aggression and a violation of the Charter while responding with silence or justification when the same conduct is carried out by a major power or its allies. The continuation of such double standards not only undermines justice and fairness but also damages the credibility and effectiveness of the international legal system as a whole.

The international community, particularly the United Nations, cannot remain silent in the face of such actions. The primary responsibility of the international system is to maintain peace and security and ensure respect for the principles enshrined in the UN Charter. This responsibility must not be influenced by political considerations, military power or coalition relations.

Silence in the face of aggression is not neutrality. If it continues, it will contribute to the normalization of violations of fundamental rules of international law.

The High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran expects international institutions and relevant mechanisms to distance themselves from selective approaches and political considerations in responding to this blatant aggression and to fulfill their legal responsibilities.

The standards of international law must be uniform, universal and non-discriminatory. No state should consider itself above the law by virtue of possessing greater political or military power.

Accordingly, the Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its inalienable right to pursue the full legal and international dimensions of this aggression and demand accountability and compensation for the damages caused by it.

It is expected that the international community will respond responsibly to this illegal action and in accordance with the requirements of the UN Charter. Continued silence and inaction in the face of such actions will only weaken the rule of law and normalize violations of fundamental principles of international law.

In conclusion, while paying tribute to the high status of the martyrs of this aggression, offering condolences to their bereaved families and wishing the injured a speedy recovery, the High Council emphasizes that the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the inalienable rights of the Iranian nation and the fundamental principles of international law are not matters that can be ignored or condoned when violated.

Responsibility for this illegal act and its consequences lies with its perpetrators. Accountability and full compensation for the damages caused will be an evident requirement of the rule of law in the international arena.