WANA (Nov 19) – Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, emphasized the urgent need to establish a Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)-free zone in the Middle East. He stated that the current global landscape—especially the Israeli regime’s genocidal war in Gaza over the past year and its blatant aggressions against other regional countries—underscores the necessity of creating such a zone. The rationale for this initiative has never been more relevant or urgent.

 

Speaking on Monday, November 18, 2024, local time, at the Fifth Session of the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other WMDs, Iravani lamented the longstanding, unlawful opposition of the Israeli regime to international calls for a WMD-free Middle East. This initiative, originally proposed by Iran in 1974, has faced persistent obstruction for decades.

 

The senior Iranian diplomat accused Israel of politicizing the initiative to mask the real reason for its opposition: protecting its own WMD programs by evading any legally binding commitments. He stated that Israel’s actions, including terrorist and sabotage activities against peaceful nuclear programs and scientists in the region, highlight its defiance of international norms.

 

Iravani referenced specific incidents to underscore his point, such as the Israeli Prime Minister’s remarks during the 78th UN General Assembly on September 22, 2023, about a “credible nuclear threat against Iran,” and an Israeli minister’s suggestion to use nuclear weapons in Gaza. Such statements, Iravani argued, necessitate immediate intervention by international bodies, including the UN Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

 

The ambassador strongly condemned Israel’s illegal and irresponsible actions and stressed the danger posed by WMDs in the hands of what he described as an illegitimate regime. He reiterated that establishing a WMD-free zone in the Middle East is a critical step toward addressing Israel’s WMD capabilities and ensuring the region’s safety.

 

The full text of Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani’s remarks at the Fifth Session of the Conference in New York on November 18, 2024, is as follows:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

 

Mr. President,

At the outset, I would like to congratulate you on your election as the Chair of this session of the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction. Under your capable leadership, we anticipate a successful meeting.

 

I would also like to extend my gratitude to Libya for its effective leadership during the Fourth Session of the Conference.

 

Mr. President,

The current global outlook, particularly the Israeli regime’s genocidal war in Gaza over the past year and its blatant aggression against other regional nations, highlights the urgent necessity of establishing a Middle East zone free of all weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). The relevance and immediacy of creating such a zone have never been clearer.

 

Mr. President,

At the international level, we face the troubling reality of an unprecedented and concerning nuclear arms race. Nuclear-armed states have not only failed to fulfill their disarmament obligations over decades but have also actively sought to modernize their nuclear arsenals. They have participated in nuclear-sharing arrangements that directly contradict their non-proliferation commitments.

 

It is regrettable that the balance among the core principles of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)—non-proliferation, peaceful use of nuclear energy, and disarmament—has been disrupted, with excessive emphasis on non-proliferation at the expense of peaceful use and disarmament. This imbalance has been exploited by some states to adopt harmful policies, including the imposition of unilateral coercive measures (UCMs), which unlawfully jeopardize the legitimate rights and interests of non-nuclear-weapon states.

 

At the regional level, the Israeli regime, with the backing of the United States, continues to amass various WMDs while refusing to join any binding international disarmament treaties or submit to monitoring and verification mechanisms.

 

For decades, the Israeli regime has unlawfully opposed persistent international calls to establish a WMD-free zone in the Middle East—a proposal initiated by Iran in 1974. By politicizing this initiative, Israel seeks to conceal the true reason for its opposition: the protection of its WMD program by avoiding any legally binding obligations.

 

Israel’s actions, including terrorist and sabotage activities against peaceful nuclear programs and scientists in the region, as well as threats of a “credible nuclear strike against Iran” by its Prime Minister during the 78th UN General Assembly on September 22, 2023, and a proposal by an Israeli minister to use nuclear weapons in Gaza, demand immediate intervention by international bodies such as the UN Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

 

We strongly condemn these illegal and irresponsible actions and emphasize the grave risks posed by the existence of WMDs in the hands of such an illegitimate regime. These actions underscore the urgent necessity of establishing a WMD-free zone in the region as a critical step toward addressing Israel’s WMD capabilities and eliminating these dangerous weapons from the Middle East.

 

Mr. President,

Five years into this conference, it is crucial to reflect on past sessions and plan for future ones to strengthen the conference’s overall trajectory. In this context, I would like to make several points:

 

1. The conference remains the only initiative providing a comprehensive framework for all Middle Eastern countries willing to engage in discussions on this sensitive national security issue. Strengthening the conference through constructive participation from all invited members and observers is vital.

 

2. The success, sustainability, and credibility of the conference are undermined by Israel’s refusal to participate and the United States’ support for this stance. This issue must be addressed seriously, and alternative strategies to overcome these obstacles should be explored.

 

3. A key achievement of the conference is its emphasis on the need for Israel to swiftly join the NPT and place its nuclear facilities under comprehensive IAEA safeguards. To build on this progress, the conference must stress the importance of genuine disarmament before establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone. Israel’s accession to the NPT as a non-nuclear-weapon state must be the first step toward creating a WMD-free Middle East. Similarly, Israel’s accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) is essential.

 

4. Given the lack of an agreed mechanism within the IAEA to monitor the destruction of nuclear weapons, further discussions involving technical experts from the IAEA and member states are necessary to develop an effective approach.

 

5. The conference must adopt a comprehensive approach that ensures chemical and biological weapons are not overlooked, especially considering the absence of verification mechanisms under the BWC. We propose dedicating thematic discussions to the chemical and biological dimensions of a Middle East WMD-free zone in future conference sessions and in the working committee.

 

6. The scope of the conference and its working committee discussions should be limited to nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. Introducing contentious or unrelated topics could prove counterproductive and diminish engagement.

 

7. Conference members must recognize the inalienable right to the peaceful use of nuclear, chemical, and biological technologies without restrictions. Future sessions should affirm this right and establish mechanisms to protect member states from any impediments, including unilateral coercive measures (UCMs).

 

8. Future conference and working committee sessions should explore the creation of frameworks for peaceful nuclear cooperation to promote peace and collaboration in the region. This could include establishing a consortium for joint nuclear fuel production among countries with nuclear power plants, fostering transparency, trust, and shared resources.

 

9. Drawing on the valuable experiences of other regional treaties highlights the importance of continued and sustained engagement with those organizations. Future working committee sessions could allocate more time for in-depth discussions and exchanges with representatives from other nuclear-weapon-free zones.

 

10. Western nuclear-armed states participating as observers in this conference should refrain from exploiting the platform to levy baseless accusations against conference members. Such behavior must cease, and if it persists, the conference should take appropriate measures. These states should focus on their primary responsibility within the framework of the conference: negotiating negative security assurances for the region’s countries.

 

11. Our discussions should lead to coordinated positions among conference members in other relevant forums. For instance, Israel’s nuclear threats against Iran, as with its threats against Gaza, deserve condemnation by conference members.

 

12. Engaging various sectors within member states to achieve the conference’s ultimate goal is invaluable. Regional events to involve military and civilian sectors should be encouraged to promote awareness, share information, and enhance the conference’s effectiveness. In this regard, we express gratitude to Qatar for hosting a fruitful regional meeting.

 

13. Structurally, both the conference and its working committee sessions have proven effective, facilitating valuable discussions supported by expert participation. Therefore, there is no need to create any new organizations.

 

Mr. President,

Iran remains committed to fulfilling its international obligations, including those under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA), while safeguarding its national interests in accordance with international law.

 

In conclusion, Iran will continue to actively contribute to the success of this conference, with the ultimate aim of enhancing regional security in the Middle East and its subregions, including the Persian Gulf.

 

Thank you.