WANA (Sep 23) – Seyed Abbas Araghchi, who traveled to New York to attend the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly, participated in the high-level meeting of the “Assembly of Ancient Civilizations” and, in his remarks, set out his country’s views on the role and importance of the heritage of ancient civilizations and cultures in restoring peace and security in the world.

 

The text of Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, at the meeting of foreign ministers of the “Assembly of Ancient Civilizations” in New York is as follows:

 

“Honorable Ministers, dear colleagues,

 

First, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Greece for its capable stewardship of this Assembly and for organizing this meeting. We have gathered here as the custodians of some of humanity’s oldest civilizations—civilizations whose shared heritage is not merely a window into the past but a compass for our common future. Today’s global uncertainties clearly demonstrate why our mission has become increasingly important.

 

Dear colleagues,

 

To safeguard our shared cultural heritage at a time when threats to archaeological sites persist in several countries, including in the Middle East, Iran expresses its full solidarity with all nations striving to protect their historical heritage from destruction and illegal trafficking. We must strengthen our cooperation and share our information and resources so that we may preserve these unparalleled pillars of human memory.

 

On this path, technological innovation has proven a powerful ally. Advances in satellite imaging, artificial intelligence, and digital archiving have transformed archaeology, enabling us to recover and protect lost chapters of our history with unprecedented precision. This Assembly should champion these tools, reinforce joint scientific missions, and establish a digital consortium to map and safeguard our shared heritage for future generations.

 

Moreover, the global movement to repatriate cultural artifacts has gained momentum. The recent return of precious collections to Egypt, Greece, Iran, Iraq, and Nigeria represents a vital correction of historical injustices. Iran welcomes these actions and calls for an acceleration of this process. We must strengthen international legal frameworks so that all cultural property looted through colonialism, war, and illegal excavations is returned to its rightful owners.

 

We also recognize the potential of cultural tourism as an engine for sustainable development and people-to-people engagement.

 

In the course of development, the archaeological sites of our nations offer the world a unique opportunity to foster mutual understanding, respect, and dialogue.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Over the past two years the world has witnessed horrific genocide and ongoing aggression by the apartheid regime of Israel against the people of Palestine in Gaza—people who are the true heirs of a long-standing, vibrant cultural history.

 

This is not merely a political conflict; it is an existential assault on a civilization. The deliberate destruction of universities, libraries, museums, mosques, and churches—repositories of Palestine’s historical and cultural identity—constitutes a war crime of genocidal proportions aimed at erasing a people along with their history and future. The massacre of civilians, the systematic starving of a population, and the wholesale devastation of communities are crimes that stand in stark contradiction to the values our ancient civilizations have always upheld: compassion, justice, and the sanctity of human dignity.

 

We cannot remain silent in the face of the attempted annihilation of a people and the civilizational values that Palestine and Palestinians represent. The silence of some major actors is nauseating and tantamount to complicity in the crime.

 

The same disregard for international law was demonstrated during the military aggressions by the Israeli regime and the United States against the Islamic Republic of Iran in June 2025. These actions constitute a blatant violation of the United Nations Charter and of all accepted norms of international law.

 

Such aggressions are a direct assault on the principles of peaceful coexistence and mutual respect that this Assembly is committed to defending. They also jeopardize the immense cultural heritage contained in our ancient lands.

 

It is our moral duty to unequivocally condemn the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the aggressive acts against my country. This Assembly, founded on the wisdom of the ages, must demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian assistance, and an end to the occupation that is the root cause of this endless cycle of violence—because the preservation of culture and the protection of human life are inseparable.

 

Mr. Chair,

 

Our ancient civilizations have endured for millennia through a steadfast commitment to justice. Let us now draw from that deep well of wisdom. Let us unite to protect both the monuments of the past and the humanistic principles that enable civilizations to flourish.

 

Let our legacy be that we were not indifferent witnesses to genocide. Let us act to stop the bloodshed in Gaza, preserve our shared heritage, and build a future guided toward peace, dialogue, and cooperation.”

Araghchi at Assembly of Ancient Civilizations. Social media / WANA News Agency

Araghchi at Assembly of Ancient Civilizations. Social media / WANA News Agency