Why Did Iran Abstain from the UN Vote on Palestinian Statehood?
WANA (Sep 14) – The recent UN General Assembly vote on the resolution known as the “New York Declaration” marked a turning point in the long and fraught path of the Palestinian question. The resolution passed with 142 votes in favor, 10 against, and 12 abstentions, once again placing the “two-state solution” at the center of international efforts to resolve the conflict. Yet the absence of the Islamic Republic of Iran—long regarded as a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause—raised a serious question: Why did Tehran refrain from participating in this vote?
The Two-State Equation: Dividing Land or Dividing Truth?
From Iran’s perspective, the two-state formula is based on a political bargain in which 78 percent of historic Palestine is allocated to Israel and only 22 percent is designated as a “Palestinian state.”
Tehran argues that such a division not only fails to restore historical justice but also imposes a new layer of injustice on the Palestinian people. For this reason, the Islamic Republic has repeatedly stressed that lasting peace will only emerge when the full and inalienable rights of Palestinians—ranging from the right of return to self-determination—are recognized.
The UN Resolution on the Question of Palestine. 12 Sep 2025 . Social Media / WANA News Agency
Tehran’s Objection: Ignoring Roots, Distorting Responsibilities
In its official letter to the UN Secretary-General, Iran outlined its reasons for non-participation: the declaration “ignores the roots of the crisis,” “distorts responsibilities,” and omits “the legitimate rights of the Palestinian nation, including the right to self-defense.”
From Tehran’s standpoint, placing equal responsibility on the occupying power and the occupied population amounts to a blatant distortion of reality. The Palestinian crisis, it argues, is the product of more than eight decades of occupation, violence, and apartheid policies by Israel—not a clash between two equal parties.
Explanation by Iran’s Mission Regarding the UN Resolution on the Question of Palestine
WANA (Sep 13) – In its remarks on the draft UN resolution concerning the question of Palestine, the Iranian Mission emphasized that any practical solution must be based on recognition of the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the rejection of forced displacement. The Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran […]
Iran’s Alternative Model: A National Referendum
For years, Iran has put forward at the UN a plan that it considers the most democratic and sustainable solution: holding a referendum among the original inhabitants of Palestine—Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike. The plan emphasizes the return of refugees, universal participation in elections, and the establishment of a political system chosen by the majority.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, underlined this vision in 2011: “Our claim is the liberation of Palestine, not the liberation of part of Palestine. Any scheme that seeks to partition Palestine is completely unacceptable.”
He has further stressed that the will of the people must prevail: “We say the decision belongs to the people. The government formed by the votes of the Palestinian people will decide.”
The Land of Palestine throughout history. Social Medeia / WANA News Agency
And on the inclusion of all Palestinians in this process: “Apart from the occupiers, all Palestinians—whether residents of Palestine, those in neighboring countries, refugee camps, or elsewhere—must have a say in governing Palestine. Some argue that the Israeli regime will never accept this plan, but such a will must be imposed. If this path is pursued—as it surely will be—and if the resistance movements remain determined, this goal will be achieved.”
The centrality of these statements within Iran’s official policy shows that the referendum proposal is not merely a diplomatic gesture but a strategic cornerstone of Tehran’s approach to the Palestinian issue.
Medical staff attend a gathering to support Gaza following the Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital in Gaza, in Tehran, Iran August 25, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
Overlooking Resistance and Regional Security
Another key Iranian objection to the “New York Declaration” was its call for the disarmament of Palestinian resistance groups—a move Tehran believes would leave Palestinians defenseless in the face of occupation.
Moreover, Iran criticized the resolution for deliberately overlooking the vital issue of establishing a “nuclear-weapon-free zone” in the Middle East. With Israel’s nuclear arsenal in play, Tehran insists that any sustainable regional security framework must address this reality.
A man holds an anti-Israeli poster during an anti-Israeli rally following the Israeli strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, June 14, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
Iran’s absence from the recent vote should therefore not be read as a retreat from support for Palestine but rather as opposition to a framework it views as “seemingly peace-making, but in reality crisis-producing.” From Tehran’s perspective, any solution built on injustice, apartheid, and the denial of Palestinian historical rights will not endure. Instead, it will perpetuate the conflict and deepen instability in West Asia.
In this light, Iran’s message through its absence at the General Assembly can be read as follows: true peace will not be found in the partition of Palestine’s land but in the restoration of historical justice and the recognition of the Palestinian people’s will.
