Addressing a Security Council open debate on “the protection of civilians in armed conflict” in New York on Thursday, Majid Takht Ravanchi said in order to protect civilians in military conflicts, political considerations should be avoided in dealing with them.
He added that there are numerous cases of crimes against civilians in armed conflicts on which the United Nations, the Security Council in particular, has remained silent.
The Iranian diplomat further referred to the US air strikes in Afghanistan and Saudi air strikes in Yemen as examples of the cases which resulted in the deaths and injuries of a large number of civilians, including women and children.
He also pointed to the deaths of more than 280 people and the wounding of more than 32,000 Gazan protesters by the Israeli forces over the last year, saying that silence was the only response by the UN Security Council to these crimes.