In a conversation with the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations website about the UN Special Rapporteur’s proposal that UN member states should guarantee that they do not sell arms to countries that violate human rights, Mehdi Zakerian stated: This initiative of the Special Rapporteur is considered a civilized and progressive idea in international law, international humanitarian law, and human rights. Accordingly, countries that violate human rights and humanitarian law during armed conflicts, whether internal or international, should have their arms shipments stopped or restrictions imposed. If this issue is implemented, it will be a significant development in international law.

Regarding the guarantee of implementing this idea if it is converted into law, he clarified that this issue varies from country to country. In particular, this idea was raised under the influence of the Israeli regime’s actions in dealing with the people in Gaza and Palestine. Still, this regime translates and interprets the actions of its opponents under the title of anti-Semitism under any circumstances. Given the US support for this regime and the media propaganda that benefits it in this regard, it easily evades accusations of using weapons against innocent people and violating human rights. Therefore, some countries and international institutions ignore it when it is accused of violating humanitarian law.

The international law expert said: “Unfortunately, today we are witnessing the continuation of sending weapons from some countries to the occupied territories despite relative international pressure, and this regime uses these weapons against innocent and civilian places and individuals and claims all these actions as legitimate self-defense. In these circumstances, when it uses military weapons against hospitals, ambulances, buses carrying journalists, schools, and religious places, it is not given much attention because it has already formed the legal and media foundations for these attacks.” Referring to the difference in support between the US and Europe for the Israeli regime regarding the use of weapons against civilian areas, he stated: The Americans largely support the Israeli regime blindly, sell it weapons, and defend its actions in violating human rights, but the European Union observes some aspects of human rights law, just as Germany and France have taken steps to impose some restrictions on sending weapons to the occupied territories.

Stating that there are currently good laws to prevent the sale of weapons to countries that violate human rights, but they are not appropriately implemented under the influence of some countries and international organizations, Zakerian stated: The Special Rapporteur’s proposal can be followed up by countries and later become a norm in the international community.

Regarding the mechanism for implementing this proposal, this international law expert said: The Special Rapporteur can report to the Human Rights Council on which countries have complied with this issue. However, it would be better if the Human Rights Council had a resolution in this regard or a resolution in the General Assembly containing this idea to raise it as an issue in the Security Council.

He noted Iran could also support this resolution and propose it because Iran itself was a victim of violations of these laws during the war imposed by Saddam Hussein, who carried out attacks against schools, hospitals, ambulances, and residential areas in general, which were contrary to international law and the laws related to armed conflicts and conflicts.

Zakerian continued: “Currently, there are many countries that have either cut off or reduced their economic, political, cultural, and military interactions with the Israeli regime after the developments of October 7, but as stated in the reports, today only Germany and the United States have the largest arms sales to the Israeli regime, and this shows that the issue of human rights is of concern to many countries. Therefore, the proposal of the Special Rapporteur can be seriously considered because the ground for its implementation is ready politically and internationally.”