WANA (Nov 25) – During a meeting in The Hague, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, held talks with Fernando Arias, Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). In the meeting, Araghchi underlined that Iran remains “the largest victim of chemical weapons since World War II” and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to pursuing the rights of chemical weapons victims. He also highlighted the responsibility of the international community—particularly the states that directly or indirectly supported Saddam Hussein’s chemical weapons program.

 

The foreign minister described the sanctions imposed on Iran as “illegal and unjust,” noting that by restricting access to medicine and treatment for chemical victims, these measures amount to “a double injustice.” He stressed that such actions constitute “crimes against humanity,” adding that both the architects and the enforcers of the sanctions should be held accountable.

 

Araghchi also pointed to the presence of the parliamentary representative from Sardasht in Iran’s delegation, calling the 1987 chemical attack on the city “an unforgettable tragedy for the world.” He reiterated Iran’s commitment to preventing the recurrence of such atrocities anywhere in the world.

 

In another part of the meeting, Araghchi briefed the OPCW Director-General on the recent Israeli attack against Iranian industrial facilities under OPCW oversight, urging the organization to pay due attention to the incident. He emphasized that Israel, which “stands outside the Chemical Weapons Convention and has committed some of the gravest international crimes,” must be held accountable by the global community.

 

OPCW Director-General Fernando Arias reaffirmed the organization’s mission to prevent the recurrence of past chemical-weapon tragedies and expressed the Secretariat’s readiness to continue cooperation with Iran within the framework of its mandate.