*************** Statement by  Mr. Mohammad Hossein SAYYADNEJAD Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva  before  Third Session of the Open-Ended Working Group on PAROS in all its Aspects under Item 6. (b)(ii)(3): Elements on basic obligations related to the protection of space-based services to civilians Geneva, July 7, 2026 **** بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم Thank you, Mr. Chair, As almost every aspect of human life becomes increasingly dependent on space-based technologies and applications, ensuring the continuous, secure, and sustainable provision of these services is a matter of common concern for all. There should be no doubt that critical space-based services supporting civilian needs and humanitarian operations deserve effective protection and must remain immune from attacks. The Islamic Republic of Iran therefore attaches particular importance to safeguarding such services and the infrastructures that enable their continuous operation. Under item 6 (c)(ii), one delegation advanced a particularly troubling line of argument by seeking to justify attacks against civilian ground-based space infrastructures. Such reasoning is baseless, unconstructive, deeply concerning, and may set a very dangerous precedent. We recognize that arguments of this nature are often advanced for political purposes, including to justify acts of aggression and conduct that is contrary to international law. However, if the international community were to accept such flawed reasoning, an important question inevitably arises. Would satellite networks operated by commercial entities, including those that have reportedly been used extensively in support of military operations during military aggressions, also be regarded as legitimate military objectives? This question deserves careful reflection. The international community should not allow vague and selective interpretations of the concept of dual-use to erode the protection afforded to civilian space infrastructure or to create dangerous precedents that could further undermine the peaceful use of outer space. Any intentional attack against civilian space-ground infrastructures, or any interference with their normal functioning, may have serious consequences for civilian populations and humanitarian operations that increasingly rely on space-enabled services. The Islamic Republic of Iran therefore emphasizes that space-related ground infrastructures, in particular civilian and humanitarian space services, should never become targets of military attacks, nor should they be exploited in ways that undermine their exclusively peaceful nature. Mr. Chair, The issue that my delegation wishes to raise under this item concerns the realities that took place during the recent full-scale war of aggression against my country. During the recent war of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, civilian and scientific infrastructures forming part of Iran’s civilian space activities were deliberately and systematically targeted. These attacks affected infrastructures that were fully civilian and scientific facilities serving exclusively peaceful purposes. They supported disaster management, environmental monitoring, satellite communications, scientific research, public warning systems, and the safety of civilians during emergencies. It is deeply concerning that outer space is being viewed as a domain for military confrontation rather than peaceful cooperation, and civilian ground infrastructures related to it are unlawfully considered legitimate targets. This trend runs counter to the shared interest of the international community in preserving outer space exclusively for peaceful purposes, and undermines states’ inherent right to use space peacefully. Mr. Cahir, Distinguished Colleagues, Drawing on its experience of two consecutive military aggressions, the Islamic Republic of Iran underscores the importance of establishing a legally binding international instrument to ensure the peaceful character of outer space and to prohibit attacks against space-related ground infrastructures. On the attacks against Iran’s peaceful space centers and facilities, if the international community remains silent or fails to respond adequately to such violations of international law, no State represented in this room can assume that it will not face similar actions in the future. The Working Group cannot afford to overlook such developments. It should address this issue with the seriousness it deserves and unequivocally reject and condemn attacks against peaceful space infrastructures. We also call upon all States to speak out clearly and unequivocally condemn the attacks carried out against Iran's peaceful space infrastructures by the regime of Israel and the USA. Thank you, Mr. Chair. ---