Statement by  H.E. Ambassador Ali BAHREINI   Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva At the Urgent Debate of 61st UN Human Rights Council  Geneva, 25 March 2026  **** بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم     Mr. President, For more than 78 years, our region has been paying the price for the birth and costly survival of an entity that, with each passing moment, erodes global security and casts our region deeper into turmoil; and the suffering is compounded when false and fabricated narratives replaced with realities, are accepted as truth—when defenders are recast as enemies. The malevolent regime of Israel has cunningly turned the president of the United States of America as executor of its wicked designs. Such mastery poses a grave threat to the entire world. Israel, is not merely attacking Iran, nor solely striking at Lebanon, nor even undermining Palestine—it is assaulting the very fabric of regional order and dragging the entire world toward chaos and peril. Today, we assure our neighbours that Iran will not be the last focus; after Iran, you will become even more accessible targets for the execution of sinister ideological agendas of Israeli regime. Those who are today appearring as your friends, will cast off their masks tomorrow. Mr. President, Today, the Iranian brave and honourable armed forces stand resolutely against this malignant entity—an insidious power that threatens not only our region but the stability of the world itself.  For more than four decades, Israel has orchestrated a project of Iranophobia, and now they have prepared the grounds of conflict to give life to their malevolent narratives, to draw a wedge between us, and to weaken us altogether. We urge the people of our region to respond with heightened awareness, wisdom, and understanding. We fight on behalf of all of you against an enemy that, if not restrained today, will be beyond containment tomorrow. Mr. President, The coordinated invasion against Iran began with a profoundly tragic brutal attack against Minab School on 28 February. The Minab attack and the other strikes on civilian infrastructures in Iran — including our Islamic cultural heritage site in Isfahan, desalination facilities, oil refineries, stadiums, hospitals, the petrochemical complexes in Asaluyeh, Kharg island , and the residential homes of the Iranian people are originated from U.S. bases in some of our neighboring countries. Airfields and deserts in those countries have become the refuelling points for the fighter jets that everyday drop their bombs on the people of Iran. And how could all of this happen while we were confident in our neighbours and friends, believing that they would never lease their land or airspace for attacks on Iran? From 28 February 2026, as a stark example of domicile, near 45 thousand of houses have been demolished, more than 53 hospitals have been targeted, and 57 schools have been bombarded. Today Iran is mourning for killing of more than 1500 people including 300 children.   Responsibility for these attacks lies not only with those who carried them out, but also with those who facilitated, supported, and encouraged them. Iran considers it its right to respond to attacks at their source and to prevent any repetition of aggression. Our message to our neighbors is that we must be united for the sake of our shared values, geography and future. We must unite against the evil plans of our common enemy, Israel. Do not embolden Israel by targeting Iran, and only Iran in political and legal fora. It is a historic mistake. Thank you. ---