The UN and European Union warnings over the offensive in Iran

The United Nations and European governments questioned the legality of the attacks on the Persian nation, called for restraint and warned of the risk of mass displacement and a deterioration of the international system.

Almost a week after the conflict began, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said it was shocked by the impact of the hostilities on the population and civilian infrastructure, caused by the escalation by the United States and Israel against Iran, as well as Hezbollah's subsequent entry into the conflict.

Meanwhile, Spain's Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, described the attack by the United States and Israel on Iran as a “unilateral action,” since it has the backing of neither the Charter of the United Nations nor international law.

Spain also condemned Iran's attacks on several nations in the Middle East region. Albares asked the European Union (EU) to be a voice of reason in the midst of this dangerous armed conflict.

Albares also condemned Iran's retaliatory attacks on other Middle Eastern nations as “unjustified” and asked the European Union to be a “voice of reason” in the midst of a precarious escalation.

Both European leaders and UN authorities had condemned human rights violations by the Iranian regime since before the war began and expressed their support for the people of Iran.

OHCHR called on all parties to avoid further escalation and to take all possible measures to protect the civilian population. It also noted that any attack must comply with the principles of international humanitarian law, while demanding that all parties put an end to this violence.

Concern among institutions

The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) expressed concern that the escalation in the Islamic Republic of Iran could alter the number of applications for protection, which had been in a phase of decline.

In a document, the EUAA noted that, with a population of approximately 90 million, even partial destabilization could generate refugee movements of unprecedented magnitude.

Several European institutions are deeply concerned about this situation. According to diplomatic sources, the question of possible new migration toward Europe was discussed at an extraordinary meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers on Sunday, March 1.

Meanwhile, global unions and federations issued urgent statements calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to the escalation in the Middle East, noting that the attacks have caused “civilian deaths, injuries and the destruction of critical infrastructure, including hospitals and schools.” These organizations stress that the conflict is violating the Charter of the United Nations and international humanitarian law.

The crisis at the UN and global conflicts

In recent months, senior United Nations officials have warned that the rise in wars and regional tensions is testing the international architecture created after World War II.

Secretary-General António Guterres has stated on repeated occasions that “the world is facing growing fragmentation” and that current conflicts are eroding trust in multilateral institutions. In this context, he insisted that “the Charter of the United Nations is not optional,” in reference to unilateral attacks and the use of force without international consensus.

At the same time, the United Nations is facing imminent financial collapse and has warned that if countries, including the United States, do not pay their outstanding dues, the organization will have to make cuts and review the scope of its operations.

Along these lines, senior UN officials say that if funds run out, they would be forced to close their headquarters in New York in August. If this were to happen, it would affect the UN Security Council, the body responsible for maintaining international peace and stability, which meets at this headquarters. 

This is closely linked to the current context of global conflicts, because if it runs out of funds, the UN would have to close the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which responds to global emergencies such as conflicts and natural disasters.

Amid this scenario of military escalation, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, had already warned that some global actors openly question the institutions created to protect human rights. The UN is calling for the defense of the principles set out in the 1945 Charter, noting that what is at stake is not only the stability of a region but also the validity of a rules-based international order. For the United Nations, the immediate challenge is not only to stop the violence but to prevent the current escalation from further weakening the multilateral system.

Guillermo Whpei

President of Fundación para la Democracia