According to Mehr News Agency, Iranian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amir Saeed Iravani made the remarks at a meeting of the United Nations Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee).
The full text of Ambassador Irabani’s speech is below.
In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Merciful
Mr. Chairman,
First of all, I would like to thank the Chairman and the Under-Secretary-General of the Special Committee for their presentation on the report on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and the Syrian Occupied Golan. While there are credible reports documenting widespread torture and sexual violence against Palestinians, in addition to continued policies of occupation and occupation, including the expansion of illegal settlements, it is deeply regrettable that the humanitarian toll is devastating, with approximately 70,000 civilians, primarily women and children, killed by the Israeli regime.
It is unacceptable that this regime has revealed its malicious and non-peaceful nature by systematically eroding the legitimacy and effectiveness of the United Nations. Israel has deliberately ignored successive advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice affirming its obligation to end its illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, cease all settlement activities, and evacuate settlers. Most recently, Israeli authorities publicly rejected the ICJ’s advisory opinion, dismissing it as biased and unjustified, although the court clearly documented Israel’s violations of international law, including the prohibition of starvation as a means of war, and ordered it to facilitate humanitarian relief in Gaza through the United Nations and its agencies. Iran strongly condemns these misleading claims by Israeli authorities against the United Nations and its key institutions, and considers them to be gross violations of international law and the authority of the United Nations.
Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates,
The continued expansion of illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories remains a matter of grave concern. According to official statements from Israeli occupation authorities, approximately 30,000 additional settlements are planned this year alone, deepening and expanding an already extensive network of illegal settlements. Such actions, made worse by the recent Israeli parliament’s approval of legislation aimed at annexing the occupied West Bank and asserting Israeli sovereignty there, must be firmly rejected by the international community.
We also express deep concern over the ongoing blockade of Gaza and the widespread destruction of infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and residential areas. These atrocities are further exacerbated by the weaponization of hunger as a means of war, which not only intensifies human suffering but also undermines the inalienable rights of Palestinians, such as the right of return and the right to live with dignity in their homeland.
The General Assembly is deeply alarmed by reports showing that in the last month alone there have been hundreds of ceasefire violations in the Gaza Strip, with more than 270 Palestinians killed and many more injured. This situation is extremely regrettable, especially as civilians, including children, who had pinned their hopes on a ceasefire are instead being exposed to renewed shelling and violence by Israeli forces and armed settlers. Such actions reflect the actions of non-compliant actors who act in bad faith and consistently fail to live up to their promises.
The Islamic Republic of Iran therefore resolutely supports all credible efforts aimed at ending the genocide in Gaza, ensuring the complete withdrawal of the occupying forces, establishing a permanent ceasefire, facilitating the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance and restoring the inalienable fundamental rights of the Palestinian people. However, we emphasize that any plans for Gaza and other areas of the Palestinian Territories fail to incorporate or reflect the views and aspirations of all Palestinians, are promoted as part of a broader colonial strategy, and blatantly ignore Palestinian rights, especially the right to self-determination. These acts are a clear manifestation of colonialism and continue despite repeated calls from the international community for an end to colonialism.
Mr. Chairman,
Dear Distinguished Representatives,
Regarding yesterday’s adoption of the US draft resolution, we noted the concerns expressed by Security Council Member States about the mechanisms contained in the resolution that seek to avoid responsibility of the United Nations and the Security Council itself. Nevertheless, many Member States, while expressing these concerns, voted in favor of the resolution with the immediate primary objectives of halting bloodshed and genocide in Gaza, protecting the lives of Palestinian civilians, including women and children, ensuring a durable ceasefire, facilitating widespread humanitarian assistance, and ensuring the complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces.
The Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates that this resolution and its mechanisms must not be interpreted or implemented in a manner that violates or undermines the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Gaza is an integral part of the Palestinian Territories and its integrity and territorial integrity must be fully maintained. It must be administered under the Palestinian Interim Commission. As many Council members have emphasized, no annexation, occupation or forced displacement should be permitted or justified under this new resolution. Humanitarian aid must flow freely and be distributed throughout Gaza without interference through UN agencies.
My delegation believes that ending the war against the Gaza population, however important, does not absolve Member States and competent international organizations of their common legal, moral and humanitarian obligations to ensure justice and accountability. True justice requires full accountability. The perpetrators and masterminds of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity in Gaza must be prosecuted, and the decades-long culture of impunity surrounding the Israeli regime must finally come to an end.
Last but not least, Mr. Speaker, regarding the occupied territories of the Syrian Arab Republic, Iran strongly condemns the continued illegal Israeli presence, military operations, and further aggression, which have resulted in the deaths and injuries of the Syrian people and the destruction of critical infrastructure. In accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions, we reiterate that Israel’s attempts to impose its law, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan Heights are null and void and have no validity under international law.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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