WANA (Nov 14) – Amir Saeed Iravani, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations, emphasized during the General Assembly session on the IAEA’s report on Iran that the Islamic Republic of Iran has been a responsible and committed member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty since 1970. Nevertheless, the three European countries and the United States, by repeating the fabricated claims of the Israeli regime, continue to distort and misrepresent Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities.

 

The full text of his statement is as follows:

 

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Mr. President,

 

I thank the Director General for presenting the report. However, such reports must always remain professional, fact-based, and free from any political influence, for the credibility of the Agency depends entirely on their impartiality.

 

Nuclear energy is essential and irreplaceable for development and energy security, especially in developing countries. The transfer of nuclear knowledge and technology, which is guaranteed under Article IV of the NPT and the IAEA Statute, is an inherent and inalienable right — not a privilege.

 

The safeguards system must facilitate the peaceful use of nuclear energy, not impede it. Any attempt to exploit non-proliferation concerns in order to strip developing countries of their legitimate rights constitutes a serious violation of the letter and spirit of the NPT.

 

It is deeply troubling that while some countries systematically restrict developing nations’ access to peaceful nuclear technology, they simultaneously provide weapons and military assistance to the Israeli regime — a non-party to the NPT that possesses a clandestine arsenal of weapons of mass destruction.

 

Such double standards, combined with unlawful unilateral coercive measures, severely undermine the credibility of the non-proliferation regime and the Agency’s technical cooperation mandate.

 

Mr. President,

The world witnessed a profoundly criminal and aggressive act in June 2025. The Israeli regime, only hours after the politically motivated resolution adopted by the Board of Governors, launched extensive and heavy attacks against Iran’s safeguarded nuclear facilities, which are under the full supervision of the Agency. These criminal attacks targeted Iranian scientists and their families, killing or injuring thousands and causing massive material damage.

 

The United States, a permanent member of the Security Council and a trustee of the NPT, joined this aggression on 22 June, directly targeting Agency-monitored facilities. These actions constituted a clear violation of international law, the UN Charter, the Agency’s Statute, and Security Council Resolution 487 (1981), which explicitly prohibits any attack on safeguarded nuclear facilities. This was not merely an attack on a member state; it was an assault on the authority of the United Nations, the credibility of the Agency, and the integrity of the safeguards system.

 

Despite the fact that the relevant resolutions of the General Conference clearly state that any armed attack or threat of attack against nuclear facilities used for peaceful purposes violates the principles of the UN Charter, international law, and the Statute of the Agency — and despite the Director General’s repeated emphasis that nuclear facilities must never, under any circumstances, be attacked due to the grave risks such actions pose to people, the environment, nuclear safety and security, and regional and international peace —

 

Regrettably, the illegal attacks on Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities were neither condemned by the Agency nor by the Security Council, nor even by the Director General himself. Unfortunately, both the President of the General Assembly and the Director General of the IAEA once again refrained from condemning these unlawful attacks in their statements under this agenda item.

 

Mr. President,

The Islamic Republic of Iran has been a responsible and committed member of the NPT since 1970. Nevertheless, the three European countries and the United States, by echoing the fabricated claims of the Israeli regime, continue to distort Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities — while the same regime, as the only possessor of nuclear weapons in the region and the main obstacle to establishing a Middle East free of nuclear weapons, continues its actions with complete impunity.

 

Despite sabotage, assassinations, unlawful sanctions, and now direct attacks on its safeguarded nuclear facilities, Iran has never violated the JCPOA, the NPT, or its safeguards obligations, and has always remained committed to diplomacy.

 

The Director General’s recent reports also confirm that the suspension of inspections was a direct consequence of these armed attacks. The responsibility lies entirely with the aggressors, not with the victim. None of the existing safeguards provisions address how to maintain engagement under conditions of armed aggression and persistent threats.

 

Therefore, establishing a new framework to ensure the security of nuclear personnel and facilities under such extraordinary circumstances is essential.

 

Iran and the Agency signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 9 September 2025 in Cairo in a constructive atmosphere to address these challenges. Unfortunately, this positive development was immediately undermined by hostile actions from the United States and the three European countries, which continue to block every diplomatic initiative, including the balanced proposal of China and Russia in the Security Council.

 

The activation of the so-called “snapback” mechanism by the three European countries is illegal, reckless, and aimed at destroying the last bridge of diplomacy, and is therefore null and void. Having themselves violated the JCPOA and Resolution 2231, they have no legal standing to invoke its provisions. Resolution 2231 permanently expired on 18 October 2025, and all related restrictions have ended. Any attempt to revive or reimpose them is an unlawful abuse of procedures and must be firmly rejected by this Assembly and the Secretary-General.

 

Mr. President,

Iran will never submit to threats or coercion. Our response is only to respect, the rule of law, and equality. Military aggression and economic terrorism will never force Iran to relinquish its legitimate rights.