Ambassador's Statement at UNSC Regarding Situation in Syria

Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations has delivered a statement during a Security Council meeting to address the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic. The full text of the statement is as follows:

Statement by

H.E. Mr. Amir Saeid Iravani

Ambassador and Permanent Representative

of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations

Before the United Nations Security Council

On “The situation in the Middle East: (Syria)”

New York, 28 August 2024

بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم

 

Thank you, Mr. President.

As this is our first address of the month, we congratulate Sierra Leone on its presidency of the Council and commend its successful leadership so far.

We thank Mr. Pederson, the Special Envoy, and Ms. Msuya, the Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, for their insightful briefings.

Mr. President,

The humanitarian situation in Syria remains dire and the Syrian people continue to suffer severe economic hardships.

The politicization of humanitarian aid and the obstruction of international support for Syria's reconstruction largely driven by the U.S. and its Western allies have prolonged the conflict and intensified the suffering of the Syrian people.

Additionally, the U.S. continues to use inhumane unilateral sanctions as a tool for the collective punishment of the Syrian population. These illegal actions impose unnecessary hardships and hinder Syria's recovery.

We reiterate our call for the immediate removal of these harmful measures. They must be lifted, both as a legal obligation and a moral imperative.

Similarly, providing impartial and non-politicized humanitarian aid to all regions of Syria is crucial to save lives.

Early recovery projects should be prioritized to offer comprehensive support and help communities rebuild and strengthen their resilience.

Facilitating Syria’s reconstruction and ensuring the safe return of refugees and IDPs to their original places of residence must be integral to any comprehensive solution to the current conflict in Syria.

The interests of millions of Syrian refugees should not be manipulated for political purposes by certain countries.

Delaying their return only prolongs their suffering and places an undue burden on neighboring countries.

Iran welcomes the Syrian government's decision to extend UN access to the Bab Al Salam and Al Ray crossings for an additional three months, until 13 November, as well as the extension of access to the Bab al-Hawa crossing for an additional six months, implemented last month.

Mr. President,

We strongly condemn Israel's ongoing aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure as well as its continued occupation of the Syrian Golan.

 Israel's malicious activities in the region pose a serious threat to international peace and security.

With ironclad support from the United States and the political support of the UK, the occupying regime of Israel continues its daily atrocities and systematic war crimes against the people of Palestine in Gaza and the West Bank and violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon with full impunity.

The Security Council must condemn unequivocally the rough regime of Israel for its malevolent activities in the region and take decisive action to force this terrorist regime to end its occupation of the Syrian Golan, cease all acts of aggression and acts of terrorism against Syria and Lebanon, and stop the ongoing genocidal war against the Palestinian people.

Mr. President,

We share the view expressed by the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic that any political solution must include ending the illegal presence of U.S. forces, halting their exploitation of Syrian resources, and stopping their support for terrorist groups and militias.

The recent attacks and violence committed by U.S.-backed militias and terrorist groups against innocent civilians in Deirez-Zor, Al-Hasakah, and other areas in the eastern and northeastern regions are alarming.

Mr. President,

Iran is committed to a political resolution of the Syrian crisis. We support the efforts of the Special Envoy and commend his active engagement with all parties involved in resolving the conflict.

Iran strongly advocates for the prompt resumption of the Constitutional Committee meetings and supports efforts to hold the ninth round of constitutional discussions in Baghdad, Iraq, as this option has gained support from most parties.

Furthermore, Iran, along with its Astana format partners, Russia and Turkiye, remains dedicated to achieving long-term normalization in Syria.

In this context, we fully support the resumption of Syrian-Turkish dialogue, recognizing its importance in these broader efforts.

In conclusion, Mr. President, I would like to highlight the responsibility of the United States for the current situation in Syria and the region,

The illegal presence of U.S. forces is the primary source of instability and insecurity in Syria, providing cover for terrorist groups to strengthen their positions and commit further atrocities.

It violates Syria's sovereignty, territorial integrity, international law, the UN Charter, and Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2254 (2015).

The claim of fighting terrorism cannot, in any way, justify these egregious violations.

Yet, instead of taking concrete action to stop these severe violations, the United States continues its violations and at the same time, stands by Israel and actively provides it with substantial military, intelligence, financial support, and diplomatic cover to continue its atrocious crimes against other nations of the region.

I thank you.