TEHRAN -- Iran’s Justice 
Minister Amin-Hussein Rahimi said Wednesday that perpetrators of crimes against the Islamic Republic must not be allowed to feel impunity, as Tehran seeks to build a legal case over acts of aggression and war crimes.
Speaking at a conference titled “International Pursuit: From the Field to the Courtroom,” Rahimi outlined Iran’s legal strategy to document and prosecute violations of international law, including attacks on civilian targets and political figures.
“Under international law, if a country is attacked, the right to self-defense is recognized,” Rahimi said. “But the question is: which war did the Islamic Republic of Iran initiate, or which country did it attack, to justify such an assault? Therefore, the essence of this action constitutes the international crime of aggression.”
The minister emphasized that even in times of war, parties to a conflict are bound by the rules of international humanitarian law.
“In addition to the principle of aggression, numerous violations of international regulations and the commission of war crimes have occurred, which must be precisely documented and pursued,” Rahimi said, referring to attacks on civilian targets and individuals.
He noted that such violations extend beyond one or two incidents, encompassing a series of actions
 contrary to international law, including attacks on political figures and civilian centers, all of which require legal examination and follow-up.
“The more extensive the dimensions of oppression and aggression, the greater the necessity for defense, documentation and legal and international pursuit,” Rahimi said.
Rahimi said the legal follow-up of these crimes was initiated under the late President Ebrahim Raisi, who passed away in a helicopter crash in May 2024. Raisi had insisted on the judiciary’s involvement in handling these cases, Rahimi said, and the matter had been placed on the agenda since that time.
With the outbreak of the 40-day war and the martyrdom of a number of compatriots and prominent national figures, the necessity of establishing legal and criminal cases to pursue these crimes became even more apparent.
The minister noted that in previous years, Iran’s legal capacities had not been sufficiently utilized in some cases, despite numerous acts of assassination and criminal actions against the country.
“Today, a professional and conscientious responsibility lies with the country’s lawyers and legal experts,” he said. “Fortunately, bar associations as well as the Centre for Lawyers, Official Experts and Family Advisors of the Judiciary have entered this field with seriousness.”
Rahimi pointed to existing legal capacities for filing lawsuits against states that have violated Iran’s rights, noting that a working group under Article 6 of the relevant regulations was active at the ministry.
With the cooperation of the judiciary, the government and parliament, a bill on handling international crimes has been expedited and is now in its final stages of review, he said. Once finalized, the law will address existing gaps in the field of international crime prosecution and provide the necessary legal capacity for effective pursuit of these cases.
The minister stressed that documentation should not be limited to material damages, adding that affected families and those who have suffered psychological and emotional harm must be able to register and claim their rights.
“The martyrdom of commanders, elites and other victims of these crimes has left deep social and psychological effects on society,” Rahimi said, “and these damages must also be precisely identified and documented.”
He proposed the establishment of a nationwide system for registering moral damages and claims of those affected, enabling all those impacted by these events to register their information and requests.
Rahimi emphasized the necessity of holding perpetrators accountable, warning that if legal and judicial pursuit does not take place, the ground will be prepared for the repetition of such unlawful actions.
“Perpetrators of crimes must not be allowed to feel impunity,” he said. “Documentation and legal arguments must be formulated in such a way that the rulings issued can be recognized and enforced in other countries as well.”
The minister also pointed to the capacity of countries that have adopted the principle of universal jurisdiction in their laws, saying these nations could represent an important avenue for pursuing cases related to war crimes and aggression.
Rahimi called for the formation of specialized working groups for coordination and follow-up of these cases, and said there were independent lawyers and institutions around the world ready to cooperate in the pursuit of justice and combating violations of international law.
“We must make use of these capacities,” he said.