Statement by H.E. Asadollah Eshragh Jahromi
Director General for International Peace and Security
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Islamic Republic of Iran
Before the UNGA 78 First Committee
Outer Space
20 October 2023, New York/ the United Nations
In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
The Islamic Republic of Iran stands in unwavering solidarity with the resilient nation of Palestine during these trying times and vehemently denounces the barbaric atrocities and heinous crimes committed by the Zionist regime of Israel. Our hearts go out to the people of Palestine, and we offer our heartfelt condolences in the face of these tragic events.
Mr. Chairman,
My delegation associates itself with the NAM statement delivered by Indonesia.
We emphasize our steadfast commitment to the idea that outer space is a shared heritage of humanity and should be utilized solely for peaceful purposes, benefiting all nations, regardless of their economic or technological advancements.
Our foremost concern remains the negative ramifications associated with the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defense systems and the looming threat of weaponizing outer space. These factors have significantly contributed to a deteriorating international security climate. The withdrawal from the ABM Treaty has introduced new challenges to global peace and stability, fostering the potential for an arms race in outer space. We are deeply troubled by the security risks posed by the deployment of strategic missile defense systems, which could trigger arms races, the advancement of missile technology, and an escalation in nuclear weaponry. We reiterate the need for a universal, comprehensive, and non-discriminatory multilateral approach to address missile-related issues within the United Nations prioritizing the security concerns of all states while safeguarding their right to use space technologies for peaceful purposes.
We firmly reject the United States' declaration in 2018 that "Space is a warfighting domain" or "the next battlefield." Consequently, we stress the urgent necessity for the CD to initiate substantive work, particularly on preventing an arms race in outer space. We acknowledge the PPWT, jointly presented by Russian Federation and China. We also acknowledge the progress made by the GGE established pursuant to GA resolution 72/250. We express deep disappointment that consensus on the draft final report was obstructed by the United States.
On another note, it was not surprising that the OEWG on space threat reduction failed to produce any substantial or even procedural report, given its inherent flaws. We have consistently cautioned against these shortcomings and believe that failing to heed these lessons may lead to similar outcomes in the future. Fortunately, the establishment of the new GGE on PAROS offers a potential for tangible results. Success hinges on avoiding the entrenchment of politicized positions among its members. We also acknowledge the consensus report of the UNDC Working Group, which contains recommendations to promote transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities. There is no reason why similar success cannot be achieved if the views and concerns of all are taken onboard.
It is worth noting that PAROS, as one of the four primary agendas of the Conference on Disarmament, has awaited the establishment of a special negotiating committee for over two decades. We call upon the United States to withdraw its opposition to this essential goal.
On another note, the United States has imposed illegal sanctions against Iranian Space Agencies, despite their fundamentally civilian nature. This action runs counter to the principles of international space law. We firmly believe that despite such attempts, the United States cannot and will not assert dominance in space. We view the proposal for a political commitment on ASAT as discriminatory, insufficient, and a deviation from the appropriate approach to ensuring the exclusively peaceful use of outer space and achieving the long-awaited goal of PAROS.
Finally, the HCoC is a restrictive export control regime that unjustly imposes limitations on numerous goods, equipment, technologies, and expertise with peaceful applications. We strongly advocate against monopolizing outer space or attempting to curtail the peaceful use of space-related science, expertise, technology, and services for developing countries.
Thank you.