Statement by H.E. Mr. Ali BAHREINI before the Plenary of the Conference on Disarmament

Geneva, 17 June 2025

Statement

 By

  H.E. Mr. Ali BAHREINI

 Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Office

and other International Organizations in Geneva

 Before

Plenary of the Conference on Disarmament (CD)

Geneva, 17 June 2025

*****

بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم

 

Thank you, Madam President.

At the outset, allow me to express my gratitude for convening this formal Plenary meeting of the Conference on Disarmament upon the request of the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Madam President,

Distinguished Colleagues,

The escalating tensions in the Middle East region, driven by the aggressive and unlawful actions of the Israeli terrorist regime, have compelled us to draw the attention of the members of this august body to the unfolding developments in the region and their grave implications for regional and international peace and security.

In the early hours of the morning on 13 June, the world witnessed a large-scale war of aggression, in gross violation of all rules and principles of the international law, against the populated cities, residential areas, ordinary civilians, non-military infrastructures including energy supply infrastructures of a UN member state, and against the peaceful nuclear facilities of a NPT member which are under the IAEA comprehensive safeguards.

At the same time and in connection with those reckless attacks, several assassinations of senior Iranian military officials and scientists were carried out in Tehran, further attesting to the terrorist nature of this regime.

 This premeditated, reckless, and unprovoked series of attacks against the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of the Islamic Republic of Iran was launched in a blatant breach and defiance of the fundamental rules and principles of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations and International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

As declared by the prime minister of the Israeli military apartheid regime it has been planning this assault against the Islamic Republic of Iran for years and finally have chosen this premeditated consequential war, consequently the regime and it enablers have to take all the responsibility and pay the price of this unjustifiable and unprovoked act of aggression.

To date, tens of civilians — including innocent women and a large number of children — have tragically lost their lives as a result of the Israeli regime’s heinous acts of aggression, which constitute a clear violation of international humanitarian law and amount to war crimes. The Israeli regime continues to deliberately target civilians and civilian infrastructure in blatant disregard of its international legal obligations.

Undoubtedly, such developments are unlikely to come as a surprise to this regime and its Western allies who have over the years, grown accustomed to the repeated and indiscriminate targeting of civilians in Palestine and Gaza, despite their persistent claims and hypocritical posturing on human rights.

Some of these heinous attacks targeted Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities, specifically the Natanz and Fordow enrichment sites, which are fully safeguarded and monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in accordance with Iran’s obligations as a State Party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

These reckless and unlawful acts also constitute clear violations of international legal norms and principles, including international humanitarian law (IHL), the Statute of the IAEA, and relevant resolutions of the Agency. They represent a serious transgression of well-established red lines in international law.

Such attacks not only endanger the lives of Iranian civilians but also posed a substantial risk of a radiological incident, thereby presenting a grave threat to both regional and international peace and security. Moreover, these dangerous actions further erode the global non-proliferation regime and compromise the integrity of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) mandate.

A regime that is not a party to any of the international treaties banning weapons of mass destruction—including the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)—that refuses to accept safeguards by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), possesses nuclear weapons, and openly threatens their use against others, must never be allowed to assume the role of a global enforcer, nor to carry out attacks on the peaceful nuclear facilities of an NPT State Party based on self-serving allegations.

Such actions undermine the integrity and credibility of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and pose a serious threat to international peace and security, precisely the outcome the Israeli regime seeks to advance. This serves as a clear warning and a matter of grave concern, demanding the vigilance and attention of the entire international community.

The longstanding position of the Islamic Republic of Iran—repeatedly expressed in this august body—that aggression and criminality are inherent to the nature of the Israeli regime has now been unambiguously demonstrated.

It is difficult to conceive that such aggressions and crimes could have been committed by the Israeli regime without the approval and unwavering support of certain Western governments, including the United States.

Regrettably, in this juncture, certain Western countries that have been complicit in the crimes and atrocities committed by the regime of Israel have found themselves on the wrong side. With shameless double standards, they seek to justify the aggressive actions of this regime and surprisingly criticize the party lawfully exercising its right to self-defense.

Madam President,

Distinguished Colleagues,

We did not choose to initiate this war; rather, it was imposed upon us through acts of aggression against our territorial integrity and political independence, even as we were preparing for another round of negotiations aimed at addressing unfounded concerns about our country’s peaceful nuclear program, in exchange for the complete lifting of the unjust sanctions imposed on our nation. It is evident that the Israeli regime persistently seeks to disrupt any initiative aimed at achieving peaceful and negotiated solutions.

In light of the fact that we have been forcibly drawn into this conflict, we have no choice but to defend our nationals, territorial integrity, and political independence in full accordance with the principles of international law, including Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

In this line, Iran will respond firmly and proportionately to the unlawful and cowardly acts, in full accordance with international law. Iran remains fully determined to safeguard its sovereignty, its citizens, and its national security through all its defensive capabilities. We will persist in exercising our legitimate right to respond firmly and decisively, for as long as the unlawful and aggressive actions of the Israeli regime against Iran continue.

The Israeli regime, an embodiment of absolute evil and a scourge upon the region and the world, has crossed all red lines and violated all international norms, enabled by the persistent inaction of the international community and foremost among international bodies, the United Nations Security Council.

We reiterate our calls upon the international community to take action in response to the numerous and ongoing crimes and violations committed by the Israeli regime. Yet, not only has the international community failed to take any meaningful action, but we have also witnessed continued and comprehensive political, financial, military, and logistical support extended to this criminal and terrorist regime by certain countries.

The international community must not allow these crimes to go unpunished and must stop this regime’s aggressive behaviors immediately. This is not merely a military assault on a sovereign nation—it is a direct attack on the very principles that underpin the international legal order.

We express our appreciation to those countries that have thus far condemned the crimes and violations committed by the Israeli regime against Iran's.

We call upon all responsible and peace-loving members of the international community not to remain indifferent in the face of the Israeli regime’s unlawful and terrorist actions. We urge the immediate adoption of collective measures to hold this regime and its supporters accountable.

The international community must take meaningful action toward the nuclear disarmament of a regime whose history is marked by a pattern of aggression, assassination, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.

I thank you.

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