Iran’s Misuse of Military Technology: Crimes Against Humanity
Numerous debates have emerged in the wake of Iran’s attacks on the countries of the Arabian Gulf, spanning political, security, and economic dimensions. This article, however, seeks to shed light on another critical aspect of this issue: Iran’s misuse of military technology to threaten the security of neighboring states, and the mechanisms through which it can be held accountable before international bodies for such actions.
While the provisions of the United Nations Charter—particularly those concerning violations of international peace and security—are clear, as are the measures that Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states should take, individually or collectively, to confront such aggression, the same clarity does not extend to crimes involving the misuse of technology to threaten state security. This ambiguity stems from several factors, most notably the transformation of military technology into a core component of state power and its role in reshaping global power hierarchies. Consequently, major powers often resist restrictions on their possession of such technologies. The challenge, however, lies less with major powers than with the behavior of regional actors—such as Iran—and armed militias seeking to acquire these technologies to target critical infrastructure during regional conflicts.
There are numerous examples illustrating this trend. The current conflict did not create this threat but rather exposed its full dimensions. In 2019, the Abqaiq and Khurais oil facilities in Saudi Arabia were targeted in an unprecedented drone and missile attack on oil infrastructure. In February 2024, the Houthis launched, for the first time, an attack using an unmanned submarine against vessels in the Red Sea, an operation that was ultimately thwarted by the United States Central Command.
In response to these risks, and despite conflicting interests among major powers, the international community has not remained idle. The United Nations has undertaken two notable initiatives to highlight these crimes and explore avenues for addressing them. The first occurred in 2023, when the UN Security Council convened, for the first time, a session titled “Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Risks for International Peace and Security.” In this context, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that “the interaction between artificial intelligence and nuclear weapons, biological technologies, neurotechnology, and robotics is deeply concerning.” The second initiative took place in 2024, during a Security Council session titled “Maintaining International Peace and Security: Addressing Evolving Threats in Cyberspace,” where Guterres emphasized that “the misuse of digital technology has become more sophisticated and covert.”
Despite these efforts, the international community has yet to reach a binding international convention criminalizing such acts. However, this does not imply the absence of legal grounds to hold Iran accountable. Such actions fall within the scope of crimes against humanity, as defined in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, including acts such as killing through widespread or systematic attacks against civilians, whether in times of peace or war.
The Kingdom of Bahrain and other GCC states can rely on strong legal foundations in addressing Iranian aggression. Chief among these is United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817, issued on March 11, 2026, which condemns Iran’s attacks on these states, classifies them as violations of international law, and identifies them as a serious threat to international peace and security. The resolution received the support of 136 UN member states. Additionally, the Human Rights Council has addressed the repercussions of Iran’s unjustified attacks targeting GCC states and Jordan during its sixty-first session. Bahrain’s accumulated expertise in this domain is also noteworthy, having been selected in March 2024—alongside Canada, Portugal, and Austria—to form a working group led by the United States as part of a year-long international initiative to explore frameworks for the use of artificial intelligence in military industries.
While principles of good neighborliness should be built on trust, Iran’s attacks on Bahrain and other Gulf states—particularly those targeting civilian infrastructure in violation of all international laws, norms, and agreements—necessitate accountability and compensation for damages. If Iran seeks guarantees from the United States against future attacks, then GCC states hold an equally legitimate collective right—not only to secure guarantees against future aggression but also to ensure accountability for Iran’s deliberate and documented targeting of civilian facilities.
Finally, Bahrain’s non-permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council for the 2026–2027 term presents a valuable opportunity to advance international discussions on the need for a binding agreement criminalizing the misuse of technology. This objective should form a key priority for the Kingdom during its tenure, as achieving such an agreement is no less significant than global efforts to address climate change, disarm weapons of mass destruction, and tackle other shared international challenges.
Note: This article has been automatically translated, the full article is available in Arabic.
Dr. Ashraf Mohamed Kishk, Director of Strategic and International Studies
