West Must Answer for Supplying Chemical Weapons to Saddam
WANA (Nov 26) – Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi criticized the ongoing ambiguity in Western investigations into the role of companies and individuals in supplying chemical agents to Saddam Hussein’s regime.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Chemical Weapons Convention summit in The Hague, Araghchi emphasized the need to complete trials, compensate Iranian and Iraqi victims, and address the impact of U.S. sanctions on treatment for chemical victims.
Araghchi stated that while some Western countries claim to have investigated the involvement of their companies and citizens in providing chemical materials to Iraq during the 1980s, Iran has not yet been informed of the results.
Araghchi: Israel the Main Obstacle to a WMD-Free Region
WANA (Nov 25) – Iran’s Foreign Minister stated that the OPCW was founded with a clear and explicit purpose—to prevent the recurrence of the horrors of weapons of mass destruction. He stressed that the Chemical Weapons Convention must continue its mission free from political interference, undue influence, or pressure, and reaffirmed that the Israeli regime […]
He added that although some trials have taken place, they remain incomplete from Iran’s perspective. “Pursuing this issue remains a permanent agenda for us, to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable and that victims of chemical weapons in Iran and Iraq receive necessary compensation,” he said.
Highlighting another key concern, Araghchi criticized what he described as “unjust U.S. sanctions,” which he said not only put pressure on ordinary Iranians but also restricted access to essential medicines for chemical victims.
He added, “Although we are working through various channels to meet medical needs, these sanctions cannot be justified, and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons must intervene.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Meets with OPCW Director-General
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 […]
Araghchi also referred to attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities and certain chemical industries during the recent war. He stressed that these sites were used for peaceful purposes, and targeting them posed risks of chemical and radioactive contamination, threatening both human life and the environment—risks that could extend beyond Iran’s borders.
He noted that these issues were raised in both his formal speech and a meeting with the OPCW Director-General, who provided a report on ongoing measures.
The Iranian Foreign Minister concluded by thanking Hosseinpour, a member of the Iranian Parliament representing Sardasht, for accompanying him on the trip. “He represents chemical weapons victims, and his presence was highly effective, influential, and valuable,” Araghchi said.
