Speech of Iran FM at the First Meeting of the National Coordinators of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations

Text of Speech of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the First Meeting of the National Coordinators of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations Tehran- 5 November 2022

In the name of Allah, the most Compassionate, the most Merciful

 

 

At the outset, I would like to welcome all participants and distinguished guests and also express my pleasure to take part in this significant meeting. Noting the current status quo, I believe that holding such meetings would effectively pave the ground for strengthening cooperation among the members of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations in order to confront common challenges.

Dear Colleagues;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

 While we are meeting here, the world is facing exponential challenges in regional and international levels. Despite continued efforts made by the international community to address and overcome these challenges, the unprecedented undermining of multilateralism by some countries has in practice led to failure of these efforts. Hegemonic and unbridled unilateralism adopted by some global powers has brought about a new era of unrest and instability for the international community. Their pathological resorting to unilateralism through imposition of illegal sanctions which are openly in contrast to the norms of international law and human rights, deeply questions the commitment of these countries to principles of the Charter of the United Nations including and particularly "promotion of and respect to human rights". Undoubtedly, imposition of such sanctions with the aim of preventing the people of the countries subject to sanctions from their fundamental and basic rights is an instance of crime against humanity and the imposers of those sanctions will be held internationally accountable for their actions.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

In this regard, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Negative Impact of the Unilateral Coercive Measures on the Enjoyment of Human Rights, in her recent visit to Iran, confirmed the negative impacts of unilateral sanctions on the fundamental rights of the Iranian nation including the human rights, right to development and right to health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. She clarified her request to fully remove the unilateral sanctions against Iran. There is no doubt that ensuring an effective confrontation with cruel sanctions requires consolidation of international cooperation and collaboration among independent countries. In this respect, the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations, as a block opposing the sanctions, enjoys great capacities which would play a pivotal role in advancing and realizing our common objectives in all countries that have been subjects of sanctions.

Distinguished Participants;

The U.S. withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal once again demonstrated this country's indifference to its international commitments and its blatant violation of a resolution adopted by the United Nations Security Council. The U.S. administration, despite all its claims, replaced disrespect to law and bullying with implementation of its legal obligations, whilst all international observers have confirmed that the Islamic Republic of Iran, in recent years and despite the U.S. failure to fulfill its obligations and the Europe’s inaction, has remained committed to a peaceful solution for its nuclear dossier and has kept the path of dialogue open to survive the deal. It is unfortunate that the incumbent U.S. administration, despite the open calls made by the international community and its own previous promises and claims, is still moving on the path of hostility against the people of Iran and continues its failed so-called maximum pressure policy. Instead of compensating the mistakes made by the former U.S. administration and returning unconditionally to full implementation of its obligations, the U.S. instead adopts double standards and hypocritical for the finalization of the agreement. 

The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, underlining its firm determination to realize its indispensable right to peaceful nuclear energy in all its dimensions, including the nuclear enrichment for peaceful purposes while abiding by its international obligations, has shown good will and will remain committed to continue negotiations to revive the deal based on equality and mutual respect. These negotiations should be only focused on strong commitments of all parties to fully implement their obligations arising out of the nuclear deal. The U.S. should prove that it enjoys good will and real determination and does not intend to use negotiations to kill the time and fabricate some alibies to sustain violation of its commitments and continue imposition of sanctions to which it is unfortunately addicted. 

Dear Colleagues;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Some major actors are still interfering in the internal affairs of independent countries through modern methods. In this regard, abusing state-of-the-art IT technologies and cyberspace, with the aim of destabilizing the national sovereignty and political independence of countries is worrisome. Fabricating and publishing false news, misinformation and disinformation in cyberspace against the countries and nations are fully against the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, target the social integrity of independent states and incite terrorist activities, violence and instability. In this respect, it is required for independent countries, particularly members of the Group of Friends in the Defense of the Charter of the United Nations, to take joint measures to establish effective mechanisms within the framework of international bodies including the United Nations to confront this phenomenon.

Undoubtedly, the fake Zionist regime has been the main violator of international law and Charter of the United Nations and an agent of tension, destruction and instability in recent decades in west of Asia region. Occupying the Palestinian and other Arab territories, depriving the innocent Palestinian people from their indispensable and natural rights and indifference to and violating the resolutions adopted by different UN bodies are among the illegal measures taken by this regime since its formation. Unfortunately, the meaningful silence of the international bodies particularly the UN Security Council against the systematic and inhuman crimes of the Zionist regime has emboldened its officials to continue and aggravate their atrocities and expand the domains of their aggression and threats against other regional countries, in a way that apartheid and racial discrimination, destruction of houses and killing the Palestinians are among their daily and routine behaviors.

Undoubtedly, countries and international bodies cannot and should not remain silent against a regime which has been continuously committing all forms of international main crimes. The United Nations, particularly its Security Council, is openly and clearly, from the legal, human and moral perspectives in charge to confront these crimes, implement its resolutions on the issue of Palestine and guarantee the realization of all indispensable rights of the Palestinian people. The Islamic Republic of Iran, as expressed over and over, asserts that the only way to reinstate peace in Palestine, other than the popular resistance, is to hold referendum in this country with the participation of all its original inhabitants, including Christians, Jews, Muslims as well as Palestinian refugees in order to establish an independent Palestinian state in all historical lands with Jerusalem as its capital city.

Dear Colleagues;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Creating a strong region at the west of Asia has always been one of the priorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran's foreign policy. However, in recent decades, widespread and continued interventions made by transregional actors in the internal affairs of the regional countries, occupation of territories and their imposition of illegal sanctions have brought about a serious challenge against the realization of this objective. Continued adoption of measures in contradiction to international law by the western powers at west of Asia region, from Afghanistan to Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen, has strengthened terrorist and separatist groups and endangered regional and international peace and stability. However, today the regional peoples, stronger than ever, are determined and willing to realize progress and independence, end occupation and enjoy security and give good tidings of a better tomorrow for upcoming generations. Conception of the resistance doctrine is a clear manifestation of the determination of nations to realize this end.

In conclusion, while appreciating the efforts made by the member states of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations to consolidate multilateralism and predominance of international law in global relations, I hope that this meeting would create modern horizons to strengthen cooperation and advance our common objectives.

Thank you for your attention.