Statement by

Mr. Mohammad Ghorbanpour

First Secretary

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

On “The Strengthening of the Role of the Organization: Identification of new subjects “

Before the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations

New York, 19 February 2021

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

Mr. Chairman,

The extraordinary consequences of the imposition of unilateral coercive measures (UCM) by the US against my Country and ordinary Iranian citizens have compelled my delegation to submit a proposal last year concerning the “Obligations of Member States in relation to unilateral coercive measures: guidelines on ways and means to prevent, remove, minimize and redress the adverse impacts of unilateral coercive measures”. Allow me to elaborate on my delegation’s reemphasis by providing some examples as to why it is high time, perhaps even past due, for the consideration of this proposal.

Although those corrupt policies are not limited to my Country and its people, however, I limit myself to some of the most negative impacts it has had in my Country’s case.

Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Country has been one of the most affected nations in terms of the deterioration of health as well as socio-economic decline. On some days, we have seen some of the pandemic’s most lethal effects, such as the drastic rise in the death toll that led to more than four hundred of our citizens in my Country perishing from the disease in a single day.

There are two main reasons that have caused the deterioration of the situation for Iranians. First, my Country’s health system at the beginning of the pandemic was faced with shortages of medicine and medical equipment for treatment of affected people. No country could even ship those humanitarian goods as a result of our funds that have been blocked in their banks due to the extra territorial sanctions by the US against my Country. I am sure the representatives of those countries are present in this meeting, and they can provide testimony before the Committee on this fact. Even the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been denied by the former US Administration to grant a loan to my Government for solely purchasing humanitarian goods in order to counter this pandemic. Consequently, my Government was not able to implement a robust lockdown policy in a way that could curb and control the spread of the pandemic thus leading to a still rising the number of deaths. On a massive scale, these sanctions have created a crucial situation for not only the economic life of ordinary Iranians but life itself.

Once again, I take this opportunity to recall the recent report of the Special Rapporteur regarding the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights with special focus given to the coronavirus pandemic contained in document A/75/209.  

Mr. Chairman,

I would also like to inform the Committee that due to conditions beyond our control, my Government is in contribution arrears to the United Nations. Therefore, my delegation shall have no vote in the General Assembly under the terms of Article 19 of the UN Charter.

Unlawful unilateral economic restrictions by the US Government against my Country have prevented my Government from mobilizing the necessary resources as well as the international transfer of available funds, which has been blocked in foreign banks due to unlawful sanctions, in order to pay its contribution to the UN budgetary system. These measures by the UN Host Country have created serious obstacles and limitations in my Country’s ability to fully exercise its rights and privileges, including its right to vote in the General Assembly.

Mr. Chairman,

Our proposal is a legal reaction to politicized coercive measures. It is an effort to strengthen the legal framework to counter those illegal actions and hold accountable those which invoke them as well as crystalizing the responsibilities of third states when facing these illegal coercive measures. We also believe that this important issue deserves to be addressed by the International Law Commission (ILC).

As such, my delegation invites all Member States to carefully review this proposal and engage in a substantive discussion.

I thank you for your attention.