Statement by

Mr. Vahid Ghelich

Third Secretary

Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations

Before the Joint Panel Discussion of the First and Fourth Committees, UNGA 77

On Possible Challenges to Space Security and Sustainability

New York- 27 October 2022

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

Hounorable. Co-Chairs,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

At the outset, I would like to thank all distinguished briefers and panelists for their valuable remarks and inputs. In this regard, my delegation would like to lay emphasis on the significance of an equitable geographic distribution of the briefers. We hope that any issues with the participation of representatives from developing nations will receive the attention they require to be resolved.

Today, the world is experiencing a surge in space technologies. Under such circumstances, the incremental rising of conflicts in outer space and the activities of some governments to dominate and seek superiority over that area has revealed the inadequacy of existing instruments not only in the face of new challenges to the security of outer space but also for the aim of promoting its peaceful use and exploration.

Responding to this inadequacy, some States raised the concept of “Responsible Behavior”. This concept as an attractive political gesture is considered a subjective, oversimplified, vague and unclear phrase driven by political expectations. In this regard, it is noted that the norms are usually set based on expectations and are against the pursuit of legal agreements.

As past experiences have demonstrated, the characterization of behaviors through norms instead of legal agreements can become a tool for some countries to evade their responsibility and enable them to put the blame on others. It creates a double standard, political division, technical barriers and abusive unilateral restrictions as a pretext to hamper the peaceful use of outer space.

As some countries are rapidly developing their military space assets and program, the threat of weaponization is the most critical challenge of outer space that we face, which must be addressed urgently. In this vein, reducing and preventing threats through concrete, legally-binding instruments is more urgent, effective, efficient and necessary than responsibly responding to such real emerging threats as they arise.

Outer space insecurity is a shared concern of all humankind, and preventing an arms race in outer space should be the obligation of all countries. While some States have declared outer space as a new war zone and are developing military capabilities, establishing a military space force and seeking hegemony as well as superiority through advanced military technologies in outer space, the efforts to address their actions by setting non-legally binding norms is a time-wasting act. For the sake of preserving the security of outer space, all such actions should be regulated through legally-binding norms instead of resorting to arbitrary and judgmental norms in response to responsible or irresponsible behavior.

Distinguished Colleagues,

The Islamic Republic of Iran has supported the draft treaty on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) as a basis for establishing an ad hoc committee to negotiate a legally-binding treaty in the Conference on Disarmament (CoD). We have also actively participated in the United Nations Group of Governmental Experts on PAROS, established in 2017 and in its meetings held in 2018 and 2019. Unfortunately, a certain state has stood against consensus in the GGE and has not let the report of the group follow suit in the UN.

Selective approaches, such as behavior-based approaches, are unacceptable as they result in politically arbitrary judgments and discriminatory measures with no legal framework. Without legal certainties, specifically, whether or not a space behavior is legal, it would be impossible to judge if a certain behavior is responsible or irresponsible.

In conclusion, as we are in an era of renewed exploration and use of outer space, with active programs to send humans to remote places in outer space and planned launches for thousands of new satellites, new threads are posed to security, safety and sustainability. Therefore, our regulatory regimes require urgent updating in line with this new era in order to preserve outer space as a global common. In this regard, the Islamic Republic of Iran calls on all Member States as well as relevant international bodies to take all measures at their disposal to make a compromise on legally-binding agreements with the sake of putting an obligation on all countries to prevent an arms race in outer space. We also respectfully request that the joint Co-Chairs report, which will be prepared later, accurately reflect our views.

I thank you.