Amir Seid Irabani, ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran and a permanent representative to the United Nations, has said that the Islamic Republic’s allegations regarding the violation of the UN arms embargo against Yemen are completely unfounded.
Irabani made these remarks at a UN Security Council meeting held in New York on Tuesday titled “Strengthening Maritime Security through International Cooperation for International Stability.”
He further stated that Tehran consistently denied any involvement in activities that violated the Security Council resolution.
The full text of his speech is as follows:
We congratulate Greece on assuming a security council presidency and thank you for convening this timely, open discussion.
Freedom of voyage is the basis of international law, and maritime security is essential to its protection. Together, they support global peace, stability and uninterrupted trade flows.
Today, however, these principles face serious and growing threats, ranging from copyright infringement, multinational organized crime, human trafficking, to cyberattacks on maritime infrastructure.
These challenges are exacerbated by unilateral enforcement measures, the ongoing military presence of certain powers, acts of aggression, and politicization of maritime security under the guise of protecting freedom of navigation.
As a major coastal state adjacent to the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, Iran has long contributed to the safety and stability of the Strait of Hormuz.
Our navy also plays an important role in securing strategic corridors such as the Babu-el-Mandev Strait and the North Indian Ocean, ensuring the safe passage of commercial and oil vessels, and contributing to regional and international maritime security.
Iran consistently emphasizes that enduring maritime stability requires comprehensive regional cooperation. Unfortunately, unilateral enforcement measures (UCMS), particularly non-territorial sanctions imposed by the United States, undermine collective efforts.
These illegal activities cut off legitimate trade relations, lead to the illegal seizure of Iranian oil cargo, violating international law and the UN Charter, threatening global navigation safety.
Maritime security, even selective, should not be subject to unilateral interpretation. It must be universally supported based on full respect for international law, non-discrimination and national sovereignty.
Iran is fully committed to international maritime law and works with all responsible stakeholders to ensure that sea lenders remain open, secure and governed by the rule of law rather than the military.
Before we close, President, we defiantly reject the politically motivated, unfounded accusations made by representatives of the US and Israeli administration.
These accusations are not only misleading, but also intentionally attempt to distort local reality in order to distract attention from the underlying causes of instability and anxiety in the Red Sea and beyond.
The allegations that Iran is violating the UN arms embargo on Yemen are completely unfounded. Iran has consistently refused to engage in activities that violate relevant Security Council resolutions. Resolution 2216 (2015) has been repeatedly misused by the United States to justify illegal, unilateral measures beyond the council’s duties.
Let’s be clear: the root cause of instability in the Red Sea and the wider region stems from the continued brutal Israeli atrocities in Gaza and the continued attacks and occupation throughout the region, and was implemented with full US support and full immunity.
This reality cannot be ignored or biased by disinformation. The Security Council must address these underlying causes and support an international legal order on which global maritime peace and security relies.
MNA/IRN