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Iranian Strikes Pose ‘existential Threat’, Gulf States Tell UN
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 25, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 25, 2026
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Gulf Arab states warned the U.N. Human Rights Council on March 25, 2026, that they face an “existential threat” from Iranian strikes on civilian and energy infrastructure, while the U.N. rights chief warned the attacks may constitute war crimes.
Iranian strikes pose ‘existential threat’, Gulf states tell UN
Gulf States Warn UN of Iranian Attacks and Regional Instability
By Emma Farge
Existential Threats and War Crimes Allegations
GENEVA, March 25 (Reuters) - Gulf Arab states told the U.N. Human Rights Council on Wednesday they face an existential threat from Iranian attacks on their infrastructure, which the U.N. rights chief said might constitute war crimes.
The nearly month-long U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has sparked large-scale Iranian retaliation in the form of drone and missile strikes on energy and civilian infrastructure in Gulf countries, killing civilians and driving up oil prices.
Statements from Gulf Ambassadors
"We are seeing an existential threat to international and regional security. This aggressive approach is undermining international law and sovereignty," Kuwait's ambassador Naser Abdullah H. M. Alhayen told the Geneva-based council.
Other Gulf states said Iran's actions were designed to spread terror, with the UAE ambassador Jamal Jama al Musharakh denouncing Iran's "attempt to destabilise the international order through reckless adventures of expansionism."
UN Council Response and Motions
Countries at the 47-member council will vote on a motion condemning Iran's "unprovoked and deliberate" strikes, seeking reparations from Iran and asking the U.N. rights chief to monitor the situation, a document showed.
Iran’s Defense and Counterclaims
Iran defended its actions, saying more than 1,500 civilians had been killed in the U.S.-Israeli strikes so far. "We fight on behalf of all of you against an enemy that, if not restrained today, will be beyond containment tomorrow," said Iran's ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva Ali Bahreini, referring to Israel.
Emergency Session and International Support
Iran, backed by China, will hold its own emergency session on a fatal strike on a primary school on Friday.
Calls for De-escalation and Broader Accountability
The United Nations' top rights official Volker Turk urged states to end the Iran conflict, describing the situation as extremely dangerous and unpredictable.
"Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure must end. If they are deliberate, such attacks may constitute war crimes," he told the council.
NGO Perspectives and Mediation Efforts
While Gulf states received strong backing in the council on Wednesday, the International Service for Human Rights, an independent NGO, warned against "selective outrage", calling instead for a focus on violations by all perpetrators.
Oman, which had served as a mediator between the United States and Iran before the conflict, was one of the few countries to acknowledge that U.S.-Israeli strikes had preceded Iran’s retaliatory attacks.
"(They were) the spark that ignited the escalation currently affecting the region and the consequences are threatening states and their vital economic interests and their security and stability," Ambassador Idris Abdul Rahman Al Khanjari told the council.
(Reporting by Emma Farge; Additional reporting by Cecile Mantovani; Editing by Miranda Murray, William Maclean)
Key Takeaways
- •Multiple Gulf countries—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE (and Jordan)—have been targeted by unprecedented Iranian missile and drone strikes since February 28, prompting Gulf states to describe the danger as existential (atlanticcouncil.org).
- •The U.N. Human Rights Council is set to vote on a motion condemning Iran’s actions, demanding reparations, and calling for monitoring by the U.N. rights chief Volker Türk, who warned deliberate attacks on civilians may be war crimes (ungeneva.org).
- •U.N. and global bodies are deeply concerned: A Bahrain-led U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Iran’s attacks passed on March 11; the U.N. rights chief underscored the unpredictable, dangerous scope of the conflict (ungeneva.org).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Iranian strikes pose ‘existential threat’, Gulf states tell UN
1Why do Gulf states consider Iranian strikes an existential threat?
Gulf states cite attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure and rising tensions as major risks to their security and sovereignty.
2What actions are the Gulf states taking at the UN?
They are pushing for a UN Human Rights Council motion condemning Iran's strikes, seeking reparations, and asking for ongoing monitoring.
3How has the UN responded to the Iran conflict?
The UN rights chief called for an end to the conflict, warning it is unpredictable and could expand across borders.
4What impact have Iranian strikes had on oil prices?
The strikes have led to increased oil prices due to attacks on energy infrastructure in the Gulf.
5What justification does Iran give for its actions?
Iran claims it is retaliating after more than 1,500 civilians were killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes.
