Prominent Iranian Scholar Calls on UN Chief to Champion Science and National Sovereignty

In a significant development, Mohammad Reza Mokhber Dezfouli, the President of the Academy of Sciences of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has reached out to António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations. In his correspondence, he emphasized the critical need for the international community to condemn the Israeli military actions against Iran. This letter raises vital concerns about the protection of scientific and academic institutions and the sovereignty of nations amidst rising tensions.

In his letter, Mokhber Dezfouli detailed the illegality of Israeli aggressions, which include:

• Targeting civilian areas and scientific institutions
• Bombardment of medical facilities and cultural sites
• Attacks on peaceful nuclear installations

He argued that if such blatant acts of violence remain unchallenged, it could undermine the foundational promise of law prevailing over violence—a principle that has been the cornerstone of the post-war order.

The letter outlines a shocking scenario: “In the early hours of Friday, the thirteenth of June, the world bore witness to an obscene calamity that must, in both legal conscience and historical memory, be called what it is: a premeditated act of war against the sovereign territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, perpetrated by the Israeli regime with deliberate and unlawful intent.” This statement emphasizes that such actions represent a violation of international law and the core principles of justice and sovereignty.

Moreover, the letter highlights the targeted bombardment of Iranian cities, which included civilian quarters, scientific institutions, medical facilities, and peaceful nuclear installations under the watch of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Mokhber Dezfouli asserts that the casualties of this conflict include scholars and professionals dedicated to humanitarian efforts, rendering these attacks a moral crime against civilization.

The Academy of Sciences of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as the principal guardian of the nation’s scientific community, has raised its voice in protest. The letter articulates that:

• When laboratories become battlefields, it tears apart the covenant that binds the international community.
• The destruction of research centers and hospitals signifies a broader injury to humanity’s moral fabric.

Mokhber Dezfouli unequivocally states that these actions breach Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity of any state. He references the Declaration on Principles of International Law and the norms of international humanitarian law that safeguard critical infrastructure, such as universities and hospitals, from military actions.

Furthermore, the letter underscores that these acts violate:

• The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which allows signatory states to pursue peaceful nuclear technologies.
• United Nations Security Council Resolution 487 (1981), condemning military attacks on nuclear facilities under IAEA supervision.

These violations are compounded by the infringement of Article 56 of Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions, which prohibits attacks on installations containing dangerous forces, including nuclear power stations. The targeting of Iran’s safeguarded nuclear facilities poses a risk not only to regional but also to global safety.

The gravity of these actions is reaffirmed by the international community. For example, the United Nations General Assembly, in Resolution A/RES/78/316, condemned military attacks on civilian nuclear infrastructure. Similarly, the International Atomic Energy Agency has consistently stressed the importance of protecting scientific sites from warfare.

The IAEA recently confirmed that there is no evidence of Iran’s nuclear program being diverted toward weaponization, further invalidating any pretext for military action. This finding directly contradicts claims made by the Israeli regime, which have been maintained under the guise of self-defense.

As defined by international law, the doctrine of preventive war has been rejected globally. Resolution 3314 (1974) states that any use of force without an actual armed attack constitutes aggression, which is recognized as an international crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Mokhber Dezfouli’s letter serves as a call to action for the United Nations to reaffirm its commitment to international peace and justice. It urges the UN to:

• Engage relevant international mechanisms to investigate the strikes as breaches of humanitarian and scientific standards.
• Facilitate independent UN and UNESCO missions to assess the damage to academic institutions and peaceful nuclear facilities.
• Encourage legal avenues for accountability under international law.

This moment in history demands that the global community does not stand by while a regime undermines the very fabric of scientific progress and cultural autonomy. Mokhber Dezfouli concludes with a powerful message: “Let it never be said that the world watched idly by while a law-defying regime launched its assault on science, murdered scholars, and laid siege to the shared edifice of human civilization.”

As we reflect on these events, it is crucial for nations to rise in defense of the dignity of all peoples and their right to pursue knowledge and peace free from oppression. The ideals of the United Nations must remain a guiding light in these challenging times.