By Sadiq Abdulfatah

Iran’s envoy to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahraini, has described the United States’ naval blockade against Iran as illegal, warning that it is causing serious humanitarian consequences and could amount to a war crime under international law.

In a letter addressed to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, the Iranian envoy said the blockade forms part of unilateral pressure measures imposed against Iran and is having a growing impact on the civilian population. He said it is restricting access to essential goods, medical supplies, healthcare services, and other basic needs.

Bahraini warned that if the blockade continues, it could further threaten fundamental rights, including the right to health, food security, development, and access to essential services, particularly for vulnerable communities. He urged the UN human rights office to closely monitor and assess the humanitarian effects of the restrictions.

He argued that the measures violate international legal principles and said their impact on civilians makes them qualify as a war crime. He also linked the situation to wider tensions in the region involving the United States and Israel, which Iran says are responsible for escalating instability.

The letter comes amid ongoing tensions between Tehran and Washington, including disputes over maritime activity in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy shipping route.

Iran maintains that any restrictions on its ports and shipping operations are unlawful and insists that it will not fully restore normal maritime passage until what it describes as an illegal blockade is lifted and hostilities come to an end.

Source: Press TV