WANA (Jul 30) – Amir Saeid Iravani, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations, reaffirming Iran’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people in realizing their inalienable right to self-determination, called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, a just and lasting peace, and Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations.

 

Speaking on Wednesday local time at the International Conference on Palestine held at the UN headquarters in New York, Iravani said: “The Gaza Strip has been turned into a heap of rubble by the Israeli occupying regime, with thousands of its inhabitants brutally massacred.”

 

The senior Iranian diplomat added: “At the same time, this regime seeks to annex the West Bank to the previously occupied Palestinian territories. Moreover, the so-called Abraham Accords added no value to a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question; instead, they emboldened this regime to pursue its destabilizing policies in Palestine and beyond.”

Famine and Total Collapse of Civil Infrastructure in Gaza / WANA News Agency

Famine and Total Collapse of Civil Infrastructure in Gaza / WANA News Agency

Iravani stressed: “An immediate and unconditional ceasefire must be implemented. Full, unhindered, and sustained humanitarian access to Gaza and all occupied Palestinian territories must be guaranteed without delay. This ceasefire should lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities, including the reconstruction of Gaza with full respect for the rights of the Palestinian people.”

 

The Iranian envoy warned: “Any forced displacement—whether under the pretext of so-called ‘safe zones,’ buffer areas, or attempts to transfer or resettle Palestinians in other locations or third countries—must be categorically rejected. Such illegal schemes constitute a grave violation of international law and must never be normalized under any pretext.”

 

He further underlined that full UN membership for Palestine must be prioritized: “In accordance with Article 4 of the UN Charter, the Security Council is obligated to recommend Palestine’s membership.”

Worsening Humanitarian Situation in Gaza / WANA News Agency

Worsening Humanitarian Situation in Gaza / WANA News Agency

The ambassador stressed: “The occupying regime must be held fully accountable for its systematic and widespread violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, including war crimes, genocide, ethnic cleansing, the ongoing illegal occupation, and its apartheid policies.”

 

He concluded: “A just and lasting peace in Palestine can only be achieved through the full realization of the Palestinian people’s inherent right to self-determination and the complete end of occupation, apartheid, and all forms of colonial domination. We seek a sustainable solution and warn that no outcome built on injustice, apartheid, and inequality will endure.”

Poster of the Meeting: “Commitment to International Law and the UN Charter for Ensuring International Peace and Security”. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Full Statement by Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations, at the High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the (So-Called) Two-State Solution

 

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

 

Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues,

For nearly eighty years, the occupying regime has been granted extraordinary concessions in Palestinian territories. Policies of appeasement have failed to produce peace; instead, they legitimized and strengthened the expansionist agenda of the Zionist regime. Since 1947, occupation, annexation of Palestinian lands, and the establishment of illegal settlements have persisted, while violations of the Palestinians’ inherent rights have only intensified. Syrian and Lebanese territories remain under the regime’s continuous occupation and aggression.

 

The Gaza Strip has been reduced to ruins, and thousands of its residents have been massacred. Simultaneously, the regime seeks to annex the West Bank. Furthermore, the so-called Abraham Accords have contributed nothing to a peaceful resolution of the Palestinian question; rather, they emboldened this regime to pursue its destabilizing policies both in Palestine and beyond.

 

None of the UN resolutions on Palestine have been respected by the Zionist regime. Meanwhile, it enjoys the unconditional support of the United States in the Security Council, where Washington has used its veto power nearly fifty times to shield Israel from justice and accountability. The unrestrained flow of weapons to Israel has enabled it to continue genocidal acts in Gaza and commit war crimes across the region.

 

The brutality of this regime, in flagrant violation of international law and the UN Charter, has even extended to the territory and sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Between 13 and 25 June 2025, Iran’s vital infrastructure, scientists, civilians—including women and children—civilian facilities, and IAEA-safeguarded nuclear sites were subjected to unprovoked attacks by the Zionist regime, carried out with the direct participation of the United States.

 

Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues,

The Islamic Republic of Iran once again reaffirms its firm support for the Palestinian people in realizing their inalienable right to self-determination. Iran deeply believes in resisting apartheid, arrogant supremacism, foreign interference, and occupation, while simultaneously seeking and promoting the peaceful settlement of conflicts. Over the past two years, Iran has persistently called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and has repeatedly warned the international community that continued aggression and crimes by the Zionist regime would escalate the crisis to other parts of the region.

 

The Charter enshrines the principle of self-determination and mandates the United Nations to respect every nation’s right to freely choose its destiny. Based on this conviction, Iran reiterates its principled position that lasting peace and security in the region will only be achieved through the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state—one that reflects the genuine will of its indigenous population, regardless of their religion—Muslim, Jewish, or Christian—through a free and inclusive referendum. To this end, Iran registered its proposal for a comprehensive referendum among the Palestinian people in document S/2019/862 as the most democratic path to resolving the Palestinian question.

 

Mr. President,

Undoubtedly, the political gains achieved by Palestinians so far are the result of their blood and sacrifices in their sacred resistance on their own land against the Zionist regime and its supporters. Because of these sacrifices—and the blood of thousands of innocent Palestinians massacred by this regime in the past two years—futile attempts to erase the Palestinian issue from the international agenda have utterly failed.

 

Mr. President,

The Islamic Republic of Iran firmly believes that any genuine initiative to realize the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people must rest on the following principles:

 

1. A Just and Lasting Peace: Peace in Palestine can only be achieved through the full realization of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the complete end of occupation, apartheid, and all forms of colonial domination. Reviving failed and discredited formulas will only legitimize aggression and entrench injustice. Peace must be grounded in a realistic and democratic approach. Any alternative is doomed to fail. Iran stands ready to fulfill its responsibility in supporting this just approach.

 

2. Immediate and Unconditional Ceasefire: Full, unhindered, and sustained humanitarian access to Gaza and all occupied Palestinian territories must be guaranteed without delay. This ceasefire must evolve into a permanent truce, encompassing the reconstruction of Gaza in full respect of Palestinian rights.

 

3. Rejection of Forced Displacement: Any forced transfer—under the guise of “safe zones,” buffer areas, or resettlement in third countries—must be categorically rejected. These illegal schemes are grave violations of international law and must never be normalized.

 

4. Full UN Membership for Palestine: This must be prioritized. Under Article 4 of the UN Charter, the Security Council is obligated to recommend Palestine’s membership. Such a long-overdue step would uphold Charter principles and reflect the resolute will of the international community, as manifested in General Assembly resolutions. This process must not be obstructed by the narrow interests of a single member. The General Assembly, as the most representative body of the United Nations, must play its rightful role.

 

5. Accountability of the Occupying Regime: Israel must be held fully accountable for its systematic and widespread violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including war crimes, genocide, ethnic cleansing, ongoing illegal occupation, and apartheid policies. No impunity or exemption must shield these grave violations. Given the regime’s persistent disregard for the Charter and UN resolutions, targeted sanctions and suspension of its UN membership are necessary to safeguard the Organization’s integrity and credibility.

 

Any attempt to normalize relations with the occupying Israeli regime, so long as it continues its illegal occupation and crimes, constitutes a betrayal of international law and justice. Such measures only undermine regional and international peace and security.