The UN Human Rights Office on Wednesday called for the urgent de-escalation of violence amid ongoing exchange of missile fire between Israel and Iran, warning that continued attacks risk severe civilian harm and violations of international law.

In light of the alarming humanitarian crisis in Iran and the grave violations of international humanitarian law, UN Human Rights Deputy High Commissioner Nada Nashif stated: “It is imperative that both sides fully respect international law, in particular by ensuring the protection of civilians in densely populated areas and of civilian objects. We urge all those with influence to engage in negotiation as a matter of priority.”

The crossfire between the two countries, which began on June 13, 2025, after the Israeli Air Force launched attacks on over 100 nuclear, military, and infrastructure targets across Iran, has left 224 people dead, including 74 women and children. The Iranian health ministry has also reported that more than 1,000 people have suffered injuries.

Iranian Ambassador Ali Bahreini also condemned the Israeli attacks on residential areas, the bombardment of essential supplies, and the explosion of drinking water resources as an act of war against humanity. In addition to the rising casualty toll, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that two critical Iranian centrifuge production facilities, namely the TESA Karaj workshop and the Tehran Research Center, sustained damage during the strikes, sparking fears of exposing Iranian civilians to possible nuclear radiation in the event of a leak. Exposure to nuclear radiation results in civilians suffering from long-term health consequences such as cancer and genetic damage. In justifying its calculated attacks against Iranian nuclear facilities, Israel stated that the attacks were “pre-emptive” as Iran was “closer than ever to obtaining a nuclear weapon,” stating that the existence of the Iranian regime posed a “significant threat to the wider world.”

The usage of military action in an armed conflict should be weighed against the principles of military necessity, distinction, and proportionality, with Article 56 of Additional Protocol I specifically prohibiting attacks against nuclear power plants.

Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear program include strikes on Natanz, Iran’s primary uranium enrichment facility, on parts of the Isfahan nuclear site, and targeting of the Fordow nuclear facility, considered a central component of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Israel’s attempts to debilitate Iran’s nuclear sector have led to numerous civilian casualties, with the country implicated in the killing of at least 14 Iranian nuclear scientists. Experts have called Israel’s attacks illegal and counterproductive.