Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the remarks Sunday morning at a conference titled “International Law Under Attack: Aggression and Defense” held at the Institute of Political and International Studies attached to Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Speaking to diplomats, academics and legal experts at Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Center for Political and International Affairs, Aragushi said that despite the United Nations’ 80th anniversary, when its commitment to universal legal principles should be stronger than ever, international law is facing an “all-out assault” by revisionist forces.
“Today, we stand before a truth that can no longer be ignored or silenced. International law is under attack. The world faces serious challenges, worrying trends and unprecedented strategic shifts at many levels,” he said.
He stressed that the current situation is the result of the anti-international law trend pursued in recent years by the United States and some of its allies, who support a Western-centered order under the slogan of a “rules-based international order” rather than a “law-based international order.”
“In reality, the so-called rules-based order has been interpreted and applied primarily in violation of international law, according to the temporary and seasonal intentions, goals, plans, and interests of the West, and most selectively used as a vehicle for the arrogant hegemonic ambitions of the United States and the West.
“Unfortunately, the countless warnings and recommendations of international leaders and countries, including those of the Global South, about the need for a return to international law based on universality, equality, and the rejection of coercion and discrimination have been ignored.As a result, even discussions of a rules-based order are diminishing today, and we are indeed witnessing efforts by the United States and some allies to create an “international order based on force.”
Elsewhere in his remarks, Aragushi said that Donald Trump entered the White House with a doctrine of peace through force, but it soon became clear that this doctrine was actually a code name for an operation and a cover for a new framework of action: “hegemony through force.”
He emphasized that the West Asia region, one of the most internationally connected regions in the world, is the main victim of this tragic situation and its development is directly influenced by the above trends. Indeed, developments in the region, especially over the past two years, fully reflect dangerous trends that are contrary to peace and international law.
He said the Tel Aviv regime, as the US agent in West Asia, is pursuing dangerous geopolitical ambitions by attacking the most fundamental principles of international law, adding: “This regime, emboldened by billions of dollars in NATO and Western weapons and military equipment, relies on blank checks from Washington and some European countries, and the immunity these countries provide in international forums, has committed and continues to commit the most heinous crimes against humanity, including genocide and murder.” It’s genocide and ethnic cleansing. ”
“Over the past two years, this regime has attacked seven countries, occupied new areas in other countries, including Lebanon and Syria, and shamelessly talked about rewriting the regional order in West Asia and a ‘Greater Israel.’ Today, it is an established fact that no country is safe from the Israeli regime’s military and security ambitions in the West Asian region. ”
Mr. Aragushi reminded that the Israeli regime, acting under the full guidance of the United States, launched a surprise attack on Iran on June 13, just two days before the sixth round of nuclear negotiations scheduled to be held in Muscat, damaging the chances of reaching an agreement through diplomatic and peaceful means.
Araghchi said, “The Zionist regime’s invasion of Iranian territory, which resulted in the killing of numerous civilians, targeted assassinations of commanders in their homes, and attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities, not only violates the most fundamental principles of international law and several provisions of the United Nations Charter, but is also an all-out attack on the non-proliferation and safeguards regime.”
He further stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran exercised its legitimate right to self-defense its territory and people against illegal aggression and not only deterred the aggressor, but also demonstrated by the severe blow it inflicted, that although the Iranian state is a peace-loving people, it remains resolute to the end in times of war and makes the aggressor regret his actions.
“In just nine days, everyone witnessed how the message of ‘unconditional surrender’ turned into a call for ‘unconditional ceasefire’, dispelling initial illusions about the Iranian state and its regime,” he recalled.
As one of the founding members of the United Nations, the actions of the Islamic Republic of Iran have always been in full accordance with international law. Iran’s nuclear program is fundamentally based on our rights recognized in Article 4 of the NPT. The development of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including enrichment, is an inalienable right of the Iranian nation and we have never renounced it. Iran has long been fully subject to the most comprehensive IAEA verification regime and complied with all technical obligations.
After the 2015 nuclear deal, the Islamic Republic of Iran fully complied with its commitments under the JCPOA and UN Security Council Resolution 2231, as confirmed in 15 consecutive IAEA reports. It was the United States, not Iran, that unilaterally withdrew from the agreement without any justification. If the United States had kept its commitments under the JCPOA, we would be in a very different situation today.
Iran’s top diplomat stressed that after the 2015 nuclear deal, Terran has fully complied with its commitments under the JCPOA and UN Security Council Resolution 2231, as confirmed in 15 consecutive IAEA reports. “It was the United States, not Iran, that unilaterally withdrew from this agreement without just cause. If the United States had kept its commitments under the JCPOA, we would be in a very different situation today.”
He said Iran’s response to Israeli and US aggression was fully in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, the inherent right of self-defense. “Our defense operations have been designed in full accordance with the principles of necessity, proportionality and distinction between military and non-military objectives.”
“Even at the height of its threats and aggression, Iran adhered to the norms of international humanitarian law. Unlike the Israeli regime, which massacres hundreds of civilians on the slightest pretext, none of Iran’s actions targeted residential areas or civilians. While the Islamic Republic of Iran has proven to act within the framework of the law in all crises and conflicts, the aggressor has trampled on the United Nations Charter, the non-proliferation regime, the principles of the United Nations’ justice, and even the strong rules of international law before the eyes of the world. ”
MNA/