Iran proposes Geneva Conventions update to regulate AI in warfare
Iran’s Red Crescent chief -Hossein Kolivand said in Tehran that the organization has formally proposed an annex to the Geneva Conventions to regulate the use of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in modern and hybrid warfare, during talks with a senior International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies official.
Kolivand made the remarks in a meeting with IFRC Deputy Secretary General Xavier Castellanos and his delegation, hosted in Tehran, where he outlined Iran’s initiative to update international humanitarian law to address autonomous targeting systems, cyber warfare and algorithm-driven military decision-making, IRNA reported.
He said the proposed addendum seeks to establish binding legal and ethical safeguards as existing frameworks are no longer sufficient to manage rapidly evolving battlefield technologies. Unregulated use of AI, he warned, could intensify civilian harm and produce unprecedented humanitarian consequences.
Kolivand said Castellanos welcomed the proposal as timely and forward-looking, adding that it would be formally reviewed within the federation’s institutional channels and considered for future agenda setting.
The Iranian official also highlighted what he described as the growing policy-making role of the national society beyond operational relief, positioning it as an actor in shaping global humanitarian norms.
He stressed that the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement must reinforce its core principles of neutrality, independence and humanity, while taking a clearer stance on violations of international humanitarian law.
Kolivand said Iran stands ready to contribute to both field operations and the redesign of global humanitarian frameworks amid increasingly complex conflict environments.