Iran proposes update to Geneva Conventions to regulate use of AI in warfare

Iran’s Red Crescent chief, Hossein Kolivand, said in Tehran that the organization has formally proposed adding an annex to the Geneva Conventions aimed at regulating the use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies in modern and hybrid warfare.

Kolivand made the remarks during talks with International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Deputy Secretary General Xavier Castellanos and his delegation, hosted in Tehran. He said Iran’s initiative seeks to update international humanitarian law to address the growing use of autonomous targeting systems, cyber warfare capabilities, and algorithm-driven military decision-making, according to IRNA.

He said the proposed addendum is intended to establish binding legal and ethical safeguards, arguing that existing frameworks are no longer sufficient to manage rapidly evolving battlefield technologies. Unregulated deployment of artificial intelligence, he warned, could intensify harm to civilians and lead to unprecedented humanitarian consequences.

Kolivand added that Castellanos welcomed the proposal as timely and forward-looking, noting that it would be formally reviewed through the IFRC’s institutional channels and considered for future agenda-setting discussions.

The Iranian official also emphasized what he described as the expanding policy role of national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies beyond operational relief, positioning them as actors in shaping global humanitarian norms.

He further 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 both to field operations and to broader efforts to redesign global humanitarian frameworks amid increasingly complex conflict environments.