Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on Afghanistan, has warned against renewed military conflict between the United States and Iran, highlighting the precarious situation of Afghan refugees in Iran.
In a post on X on Saturday, 25 July, Bennett wrote that Afghan refugees in Iran were among the most vulnerable groups and often continued to be overlooked. He also expressed regret over continuing executions in Iran, particularly those involving Afghan migrants.
Earlier, Bennett and a group of independent United Nations human rights experts issued a statement condemning the resumption of military hostilities between Washington and Tehran and the risk of the conflict spreading to other areas.
The UN experts warned that abandoning agreed commitments to end the war would undermine prospects for peace, harm the rights of war victims and destroy the mutual trust needed for a lasting end to the conflict.
They stressed that civilians must not bear the cost of the fighting and that all parties must comply with international human rights and humanitarian law, particularly the principles of distinction between military and civilian targets, proportionality in attacks and precautionary measures to protect civilians.
Concerns Over Damage to Civilian Infrastructure
The UN experts said military attacks and counter-attacks between the United States and Iran on the nights of 12 and 13 July had marked a new phase in the escalation of the crisis and raised fears that the conflict could spread further across the region.
They expressed concern over reports of damage to civilian infrastructure in Iran, including ports, energy networks, transport routes and public service facilities, warning that such attacks could disrupt access to food, medicine and essential services.
People Caught Between Foreign Attacks and Domestic Repression
The statement said that during war and domestic repression, vulnerable groups, including women, children, people with disabilities, minorities, refugees and those living in poverty, suffer disproportionately and are often left unheard.
The UN human rights experts also expressed concern over continuing executions, mass arrests, torture and reports of enforced disappearances in Iran, saying that people in the country were trapped between the consequences of foreign attacks and domestic repression.
They called on all parties to immediately de-escalate tensions, prioritise the protection of civilians and return to dialogue and negotiations to resolve their disputes.
