Monday, 25 May 2026
The sign at Iran's representative seat is placed in the room before a special session of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, June 20. REUTERS
Israel criticizes UN Rights Council for allowing Iran to speak
GENEVA – Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva has issued a strong protest after Iran was invited to address the Human Rights Council, just ahead of planned de-escalation talks with European leaders regarding the Israel-Iran conflict, according to a letter obtained by Reuters.
In his letter to council president Jurg Lauber, Daniel Meron expressed his "vehement objection," stating, "Allowing the Iranian foreign minister to address this body continues to erode the council’s credibility and represents a flagrant betrayal of the many victims of this regime around the world."
On Friday, the council announced that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi would be given the opportunity to speak. Shortly thereafter, he was scheduled to meet with the European Union foreign policy chief, along with officials from Britain, France, and Germany, in a bid to ease tensions.
Meron accused Iran of exploiting the council as a platform to "advance the regime’s despotic agenda."
Earlier that week, Iran’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva spoke before the council, accusing Israeli attacks of constituting "war against humanity."
According to minutes from a meeting shared by the council’s media office, Lauber had permitted Araghchi to address the members, citing UN rules that allow exceptional speeches by heads of state or senior ministers.
Last Friday, Israel launched attacks against Iran, declaring its intention to stop its long-standing adversary from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran responded with missile and drone strikes against Israel, maintaining that its nuclear program is peaceful.