WANA (Oct 07) – Amir Saeed Iravani, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations, said that the situation in the Middle East is extremely grave, the result of interventionist and militaristic policies of certain extra-regional powers, ongoing armed conflicts, prolonged occupation, and genocide perpetrated by the Israeli regime.

 

Speaking on Monday local time at the UN Second Committee, Iravani recalled: “Just one week ago, at the 80th session of the General Assembly, heads of state and government delivered strong messages underscoring the urgency of global challenges we face today. They emphasized the need to strengthen multilateralism, the urgent fulfillment of longstanding development commitments, decisive climate action through climate financing, technology transfer and sustainable development, as well as long-overdue reforms in the governance structures of international financial institutions. Many others called for an immediate end to unilateralism and demanded urgent international action to stop atrocities and end the genocide in Gaza.”

 

The senior Iranian diplomat stressed that development cannot be pursued in isolation. “It requires stability, solidarity, cooperation, and equitable access to resources. Yet, the persistent failure of developed countries to honor their commitments—whether in providing adequate and predictable financing, transferring environmentally sound technologies, or upholding multilateralism—has severely undermined the foundations of global development efforts. At the same time, the alarming rise in global military expenditures continues to divert scarce and valuable resources away from pressing development priorities.”

Protesters rally across Australian cities to demand end to Gaza genocide

Protesters rally across Australian cities to demand end to Gaza genocide. Social media/ WANA News Agency

He went on: “The situation in the Middle East is profoundly alarming. Clearly, it is the product of interventionist and militaristic policies of certain extra-regional powers, ongoing armed conflicts, long-term occupation, and the genocide committed by the Israeli regime. These conditions have consistently set back regional development and exacerbated its challenges on a daily basis.”

 

Iravani warned that these unlawful practices are further aggravated by the imposition of unilateral coercive measures. Such actions, he said, violate fundamental human rights—including the right to development—disrupt legitimate trade, financing, and investment, and undermine the sovereign equality of states. “They also exacerbate environmental degradation and put at serious risk the lives and health of vulnerable populations, especially children, women, the elderly, and those with specific medical conditions.”

 

The Iranian envoy reminded the committee: “On 13 June 2025, the Israeli regime, supported by the United States, launched a large-scale military aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Subsequently, on 22 June, it carried out unlawful attacks against Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities. These aggressions represent blatant violations of the UN Charter, international law, and international humanitarian law. In these attacks, civilians, hospitals, media outlets, and critical infrastructure were deliberately targeted, undermining international peace and security and gravely endangering the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).”

A building stands damaged in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 13, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

He underlined that such illegal acts not only constitute egregious breaches of international law and the UN Charter but also endanger human health, ecosystems, and vital resources through the potential release of radioactive and toxic materials whose dangers transcend borders. “These actions erode trust, weaken cooperation, and divert the international community from its shared responsibility to protect current and future generations. It is therefore imperative that such actions be halted and unequivocally condemned so that global efforts to address environmental challenges can proceed without disruption.”

 

At the national level, Iravani noted, Iran’s priorities remain clear: promoting public health, education, and social welfare; ensuring social security and equal opportunities; reducing inequality and discrimination; strengthening the family unit; eradicating poverty; expanding social justice; and empowering women and youth.

 

He further highlighted that the region is disproportionately suffering from climate change. “West Asia is experiencing rising temperatures beyond global averages, persistent droughts, severe water shortages, and intensified dust storms. Iran attaches great importance to addressing environmental challenges such as climate change, desertification, and sand and dust storms, which the United Nations has recognized as a major regional and global concern. We will continue close cooperation with affected countries, particularly in West Asia, to mitigate the adverse effects of this growing threat.”

 

Concluding his remarks, Iravani stated: “Now more than ever, unilateralism threatens our world, undermining the foundations of peace, stability, and development. These threats must be firmly and collectively rejected. What the world urgently needs today is not division, but strengthened multilateralism, genuine cooperation, solidarity, and joint action under the central role of the United Nations.”