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Mary Robinson said the attacks on Iran are illegal and breached international law
A former Irish president has said the attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran are illegal and breach international law.
Mary Robinson made her comments while addressing a rally in Belfast on International Women's Day.
"Women and the civil society in Iran have been suffering over the years and suffering very badly, especially recently," she said.
The march and rally was attended by more than 2,000 people who heard calls for solidarity and opposition to the current western military action in the Middle East.
The march and rally was held in Belfast city centre on Saturday
Robinson said the suffering women and civil society had endured in Iran did not justify "an aggressive war" and that it was "causing even more misery".
The Israeli-US military operation on Iran began on 28 February and led to Tehran retaliating with subsequent attacks across the region.
Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman and Iraq have all been hit, as has an RAF base in Cyprus.
Azadeh Sobout said she does not support the attacks on Iran
The theme of International Women's Day this year was 'Strength in Solidarity'.
An Iranian academic was among those who attended the event.
Azadeh Sobout, from Queen's University Belfast, told the rally she opposed the current regime, but did not support the attacks.
She added that regime change "could not be delivered from the sky".
"We reject authoritarianism, we reject monarchy and we reject imperial war because liberation cannot come with the machinery that produces mass deaths," she said.
"Our solidarity is with the people and not the state."
Emma Smith and her mum Lesley Bracken attended the rally together
Emma Smith attended the rally with her mum.
"It's so amazing to see women come together every year," she said.
"It's my favourite part of the year spending it with my mum and her friends from work. It just makes me proud to be who I am and proud of my mum."
She said the messages from "reclaiming the agenda", "war, genocide" and "educating your sons instead of having to protect daughters" resonated with her.
"It should be: 'Don't hurt women'... and that's my favourite message of the day."
Emma's mum, Lesley Bracken, works for Women's Aid.
Lesley said she "always brought her daughter up to be an independent woman, to take up space and to be who she is".
"We need to stand up for women's rights and yes, we're glad to be here and I'm glad my daughters come with me , we've been here quite a few years and I'm glad to see so many people out," she said.
She said she attended the march to support women from "all walks of life".
Sharon Coyle told the rally that one in six women experience economic abuse in Northern Ireland
There were issues raised that were closer to home as well.
Sharon Coyle from Surviving Economic Abuse told the crowd one in six women in Northern Ireland experienced economic abuse.
"It's about deliberately making sure that when a woman tries to leave an abuser that she can afford to," she said.
"And if you can't afford to leave where do you actually go?
"From the high rates of domestic homicide that we have here in the north of Ireland we know that many women end up remaining trapped with dangerous abusers and that can cost them their lives."
Favour Okpohs said her priority is the safety of women
Favour Okpohs is an international student and the vice-president of a local students' union.
She said the rally "means raising the awareness that women can be safe in their own city, in their own country, on the streets, going home, late nights - we shouldn't be scared of going home".
"Coming together like this we can create that environment for safety. Safety is very important," Favour added.
"Strength in Solidarity means that we can stand together to say that: 'Our streets need to be safe again, our city needs to be safe again, everyone is welcome here. We do not need to fear, we do need to look over our shoulders when walking home'."
