Secretary of Iran’s High Council for Human Rights: Unilateral sanctions are illegal and inhumane / Sanctions are tools of collective punishment that destroy fundamental rights such as health, food, and human dignity

The 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council began on September 8, 2025, and will continue until October 8, 2025.

A high-level human rights delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran, led by Nasser Seraj, Deputy for International Affairs of the Judiciary and Secretary of the High Council for Human Rights, along with representatives from the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, attended the session at the UN Human Rights Council headquarters in Geneva.

As part of the 60th session, a meeting was held today with Alena Douhan, UN Special Rapporteur on the Negative Impact of Unilateral Coercive Measures on the Enjoyment of Human Rights. During this meeting, the Secretary of the High Council for Human Rights expressed appreciation for the Special Rapporteur’s continued efforts and commitment, while presenting Iran’s clear position on this matter.

Seraj stated: “Unilateral coercive measures are inherently inhumane and, due to their hostile and coercive nature, lack legitimacy. These measures are not only illegal under international law, but they also pave the way for war and the use of force in practice. If sanctions succeed, they paralyze a nation and impose the harshest pressures; if they fail, the perpetrators resort to blatant aggression and military intervention.”

He added: “Sanctions are instruments of collective punishment, silently taking human lives, dismantling societies, and destroying fundamental rights such as the right to health, food, and human dignity. These measures deprive nations of access to essential medicine, vaccines, and medical equipment, disrupt public health systems, and halt economic development. In reality, what an armed conflict destroys in a few days, sanctions accomplish over years through slow and relentless destruction.”

Continuing his criticism of the rule-based international order, Seraj described it as selective and self-serving, marginalizing the universal principles of the UN Charter. He emphasized: “The time has now come for the international community to reject these sanctions and stand against such illegal actions.”

During the session, Ms. Douhan presented a report on the impact of unilateral coercive measures on economic, labor, and social rights. The report reviewed the negative effects of such measures, their implementation tools, and the excessive enforcement of sanctions on various aspects of economic, labor, and social rights.

She addressed the direct and indirect consequences of these measures on the targeted countries, third-party states, and sanctioning countries. She also highlighted how unilateral sanctions affect the ability of targeted countries to mitigate their negative effects and to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need.

The UN Special Rapporteur further discussed the adverse impact of unilateral sanctions on vulnerable groups, including women, children, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and refugees, emphasizing the severe human rights consequences of such measures.