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Israel began targeting nuclear and military sites across Iran last Friday, prompting a barrage of retaliatory strikes on Israeli cities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe UN human rights office urges de-escalation and urgent diplomatic negotiations to end these attacks and find a way forward,\u201d<\/strong> said Ms. Al-Nashif. \u201cWe are following closely and are aware of reports that many thousands of residents are fleeing parts of the capital, Tehran, as a result of warnings covering broad areas.\u201d<\/p>\n Latest reports from the region indicate that more than 200 people have been killed in Iran and 24 in Israel to date. The violence continued unabated overnight in both countries.\u00a0<\/p>\n Addressing the Human Rights Council in Geneva at a scheduled meeting to discuss Iran\u2019s rights record, the Deputy High Commissioner highlighted serious concerns that populated areas have been hit in the escalation.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is imperative that both sides fully respect international law, in particular by ensuring the protection of civilians in densely populated areas and of civilian objects,\u201d<\/strong> she said. \u201cWe urge all those with influence to engage in negotiation as a matter of priority.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n In a related development, the UN-backed nuclear watchdog said on Wednesday that two Iranian centrifuge production facilities had suffered major damage after being targeted.<\/p>\n \u201cThe TESA Karaj workshop and the Tehran Research Centre, were hit,\u201d it said in an update.<\/strong> \u201cAt the Tehran site, one building was hit where advanced centrifuge rotors were manufactured and tested.\u00a0<\/p>\n At Karaj, two buildings were destroyed where different centrifuge components were manufactured,\u201d said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).<\/p>\n Speaking at the Council after the Deputy High Commissioner, Iran\u2019s Permanent Representative of Iran, Ambassador Ali Bahreini, condemned the Israeli strikes:\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere has been no violation worse than [the] 13 June act of aggression against Iran,\u201d he said, pointing to \u201ccontinuous blind attacks on residential areas, bombardment of vital supplies, explosion of drinking water resources and reckless strikes on nuclear facilities are immediately impacting the civilians and people of Iran.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Such \u201cdeliberate targeting\u201d of his country\u2019s nuclear facilities risked exposing local communities to a \u201cpossible hazardous leak\u201d, the Iranian ambassador continued. \u201cThis is not an act of war against our country, it is war against humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n In a short statement to the Council from which Israel announced its withdrawal earlier this year, Mr. Bahreini called for accountability and international condemnation of the Israeli attacks.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis impunity must come to [an] end,\u201d he said. \u201cIsrael activities are not just against one or two countries. It is acting against all humanity and their actions target all human rights.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\nNuclear watchdog update<\/strong><\/h2>\n