Ambassador's Statement at UNGA: Intl. Day against UCMs

Iran's Ambassador has delivered a statement during a UNGA session to commemorate the International Day against Unilateral Coercive Measures. 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 General Assembly

To commemorate and promote the International Day against Unilateral Coercive Measures

New York, 4 December 2025

 

In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

 

Madam President,

Unilateral coercive measures are among the daunting challenges that constitute a flagrant violation of the fundamental principles of international law and the principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, in particular, sovereign equality and non-intervention. Such illegal measures also violate and impede the realization of human rights, including the right to development, while negatively affecting the overall enjoyment of human rights.

This august Assembly has consistently expressed its concern regarding the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on international relations, trade, investment, and cooperation, and it has rejected and objected to such unlawful measures.

The unprecedented and alarming intensification in the extent and magnitude of promulgation, application and implementation of such unlawful measures has caused severe economic hardship and human suffering, depriving many independent countries of their inalienable and basic rights, including the right to development. These measures target, first and foremost, the daily life of civilians and exact heavy, disproportionate, and indiscriminate human costs on the entire affected population, including women, children and the elderly.

Such unlawful measures also have serious humanitarian impacts, including by impeding affected populations’ access to medicine, medical services and equipment, and other essential commodities – effects that are further exacerbated during health emergencies, as the human suffering witnessed during the pandemic. It goes without saying that unilateral coercive measures inflict egregious conditions of life upon the entire population of targeted countries and constitute as crimes against humanity.

These are only a fraction of the violation of international law and the formidable threats that unilateral coercive measures pose to the rule of law at the international level. This meeting has a vital role as a platform to further raise awareness on the detrimental impacts of unilateral coercive measures on targeted populations.

We will continue our efforts in countering these unlawful measures to, among others, uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and promote international cooperation on the basis of international law not coercion or intimidation and call upon the Secretary-General to appoint a “Special Advisor on Unilateral Coercive Measures”.

I thank you.