Araghchi to Asian Counterparts: Stand Up to U.S. Excesses
WANA (Oct 03) – Iran’s Foreign Minister, in a letter to his counterparts in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, warned that international law must not be turned into “a plaything for the United States” and urged both countries to support Iran and the principles of international law in the face of Western sanctions.
Following Western moves to reinstate United Nations sanctions, Abbas Araghchi addressed a letter to Wijitha Harath, criticizing the actions of the West—particularly the United States—against Iran.
Iran’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alireza Delkhosh, confirmed the news, stressing that international law has now “been reduced to a tool in the hands of the United States.”
He added that the decision, taken with the backing of Western states and the U.S., posed a serious threat to international law.
The letter from Araghchi to Wijitha Harath comes at a time when, last month, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany wrote to the UN Security Council accusing Iran of failing to meet its commitments. Without acknowledging the West’s own non-compliance with the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA), the so-called “snapback mechanism” was triggered on September 27, resulting in the reimposition of UN sanctions previously lifted under the agreement.
The ambassador stressed that Iran’s foreign minister had written to both the Sri Lankan and Maldivian foreign ministers, stating: “We must defend international law. This is not just about Iran—it concerns the dignity of international law itself.”
Sanctions Against Iran Reinstated by Multiple Nations
WANA (Sep 29) – Following the reactivation of UN sanctions and resolutions through the snapback mechanism on September 28, initiated by France, Germany, and the UK as part of the nuclear agreement provisions, several countries have announced the imposition of new sanctions on Iran. The UK government announced on Monday that it has imposed […]
He continued: “Today Iran is the target; tomorrow it could be South Asian countries, and the day after, perhaps African nations. The media must make this clear to the public.”
He further warned: “We must safeguard international norms, as they are the hard-earned results of humanity’s bitter experiences after two world wars. We cannot simply ignore these norms and values, surrendering by saying the U.S. can do whatever it wants.”
The ambassador noted: “The letters have been sent to the foreign ministers of Sri Lanka and the Maldives, urging them to stand with us.”
According to the Iranian envoy, the foreign minister underlined in his message that this moment represents a crucial test for the credibility of international law.
Delkhosh explained that the UN resolutions in question specifically target trade related to Iran’s nuclear facilities and do not apply to other sectors such as tea, oil, pharmaceuticals, food, or other areas of commerce. In this sense, the measures are limited solely to cooperation connected with Iran’s nuclear program.
He emphasized that these resolutions do not directly affect Iran’s trade with other countries, including partners like Sri Lanka or larger economies such as China.
However, he acknowledged that there are implications in the transport sector, since the resolutions allow inspections of Iranian ships and cargoes to ensure they are not carrying items linked to the nuclear program.
On the current state of bilateral ties, the ambassador said Iran and Sri Lanka enjoy “very good political relations” and cooperate closely in multilateral forums.
He added that trade continues, with both sides awaiting the next session of the Joint Economic Commission, while cultural cooperation between the two countries also remains active.
Araghchi at the UN Security Council session. Social media /WANA News Agency
