NEW YORK: Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, said Friday that at least 1,332 Iranian civilians have been killed since the start of the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict involving the United States, with thousands more injured.
Speaking to reporters at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Iravani accused the United States and Israel of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure during the war. He maintained that Iran’s military operations have focused only on military targets and not on civilians.
Conflicting Claims Over Civilian Targets
The U.S. and Israel have strongly rejected Iran’s accusations, stating instead that Iran has been responsible for attacks affecting civilian areas.
Iravani also stressed that Iran is not targeting neighboring countries or their interests. He added that Tehran is currently investigating reports of strikes on non-military locations.
“Our initial assessment indicates that some of these incidents may have resulted from interceptions or interference by the United States defense systems, which could have diverted strikes from their intended military targets,” Iravani said.
Trump Demands “Unconditional Surrender”
The remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and said the country’s next supreme leader must be “acceptable.”
The leadership issue emerged after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed on the first day of the conflict.
In an interview with media, Trump said he believes the United States should have a role in the selection of Iran’s next leader.
Iran Condemns U.S. Comments as Interference
Iravani criticized Trump’s comments, describing them as “a clear violation of the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of states,” as outlined in the United Nations Charter.
“The selection of Iran’s leadership will take place strictly in accordance with our constitutional procedures and solely by the will of the Iranian people, without any foreign interference,” Iravani said.
Possible Diplomatic Efforts to End Conflict
Hours after Trump’s remarks, Iran’s president announced that several countries have begun mediation efforts, signaling one of the first potential diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the war.
Meanwhile, two U.S. officials told media that American investigators believe U.S. forces may have been responsible for a strike on an Iranian girls’ school that reportedly killed dozens of children last Saturday. Officials said a final conclusion has not yet been reached.
-David O’Brien
