Pezeshkian says scientific justice is a pillar of global peace and security

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said scientific justice is not merely a requirement for sustainable development but a fundamental pillar of a just peace and human security globally, in a message to the Fifth International Conference on the Global Coalition against Scientific Apartheid. The conference focused on "Science and Technology Justice in the New World Order." The message was read to the gathering by Davoud Ameri, chairman of the conference.

Pezeshkian said science is one of humanity's most fundamental shared assets and a primary pillar for the progress and development of human societies. Scientific and technological achievements can truly serve humanity and improve quality of life only when they rest on ethical responsibility, international cooperation and equitable access for all to opportunities for creating knowledge and sharing its benefits, he said.

The president said that despite the increasingly intertwined destinies of nations through science and technology, significant inequalities persist in access to scientific resources, research infrastructure, advanced technologies and opportunities to take part in knowledge production. Scientific and technological apartheid, he said, does not only mean depriving certain nations of access to scientific achievements; it also includes any discriminatory use of science, technology and research capabilities to create monopolies, dependency and inequality among countries. Such an approach, he added, conflicts with the transnational nature of science and the ethical principles of scientific practice.

Science should not serve as an instrument for domination or the pursuit of supremacy, Pezeshkian said, but should be directed toward resolving human problems, mitigating development challenges, enhancing public well-being and fostering peace and mutual understanding among nations. He described the imposition of sanctions against scientists, regardless of their nationality, religion or geopolitical background, as one of the most concerning manifestations in this area. Scientists are assets belonging to humanity as a whole, he said, and any harm to their lives or security is a blow to the collective scientific heritage and to humanity's capacity for progress.

According to Mehr News, the conference was held under the title "Science and Technology Justice in the New World Order," with the president's message centering on equitable access to knowledge and the ethical responsibilities of the international scientific community.