Iran UN Envoy: Sustainable Peace in ME Requires End to Aggression

Addressing a UN Security Council open debate on advancing political solutions in the Middle East through mediation and dialogue, held in New York on June 10, Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Saeed Iravani, stated that durable regional stability depends on respect for sovereignty, adherence to international law, and cooperation among regional states. He also criticized the continued military presence and policies of the United States and warned against the use of threats and coercion in dealing with Iran.

Iravani emphasized that to advance peace, stability, and security in the Middle East, the Security Council must address the root causes of conflict and instability. These include the continued occupation of Palestinian, Lebanese, and Syrian territories; repeated acts of aggression by the Israeli regime across the region; and the prolonged military presence of the United States in the region, coupled with its policies of hegemony that have fueled confrontation, insecurity, and mistrust for decades. He asserted that until occupation and aggression persist, resistance against it will continue. No political or diplomatic process can legitimize or justify occupation or aggression, nor can any durable solution be achieved without addressing this fundamental reality. Accordingly, lasting peace, stability, and collective security in the region require an end to occupation, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, accountability for acts of aggression, and the consistent application of international law without selectivity or double standards.

Regarding recent developments, Iravani pointed to the unwarranted and unjustified war waged by the United States against Iran, which he said demonstrated that the continued foreign military presence in the Persian Gulf cannot bring lasting security. He argued that sustainable peace, stability, and security can only be achieved through dialogue, cooperation, and confidence-building among the countries of the region themselves, on the basis of mutual respect, sovereign equality, good-neighborliness, and full adherence to international law and the UN Charter, free from external interference and coercion.

The envoy also accused the United States and the Israeli regime of repeatedly violating the comprehensive ceasefire of April 8. In response to these continuing violations and armed attacks, Iran has exercised and will continue to exercise its inherent right of self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. Iran remains fully determined to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security, and its people. Iravani warned that the United States and the Israeli regime, as the aggressors, will bear full responsibility for all consequences arising from their unlawful actions and any ensuing escalation.

Finally, Iravani stressed that no sustainable deal can be reached through threats, intimidation, or the use of force. He called on the US President to refrain from recurring threats against Iran, including the renewed threat of force made that day. Iran has never negotiated under threats and pressure and will never submit to pressure or coercion. The United States has repeatedly pursued this failed policy and should have learned that threats and military intimidation are counterproductive. If Washington is genuinely interested in a diplomatic solution, it must abandon the language of threats and engage with Iran on the basis of mutual respect, sovereign equality, and full adherence to international law. According to Mehr News, the full text of Iravani's statement was provided.