Statement by

H.E. Mr. Eshagh Al Habib

Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative

of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations

Before the United Nations Security Council

On the “Middle East: Syria – Humanitarian”

New York, 25 February 2021

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

Madam President,

For ten years, the Syrian people have utterly suffered from the brutal attacks of foreign-backed terrorists and illegal occupation, and in recent years, from inhumane sanctions.

The international community has a responsibility to help the Syrian people and Government to overcome this crisis and to ensure Syria’s unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence.

In this context, we call for the immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces that are present in Syria without the permission of its Government.

These and other aspects of the Syrian crisis have been extensively discussed in the Astana format meeting, held recently in Sochi, Russia, following which a joint statement was issued by Iran, Russia and Turkey.

The three countries condemned the increasing terrorist activities in Syria and agreed to continue cooperation to ultimately eliminate Daesh, Al-Nusra Front and all other Security Council designated terrorist groups and their affiliates.

They also expressed serious concern over the increased presence and terrorist activity of “Hayat Tahrir al‑ Sham” and other affiliated terrorist groups and the threat they pose to civilians inside and outside the Idlib de-escalation area. In this context, we express serious concern over the attempts to exonerate certain terrorist groups with the ultimate goal of their de-listing.

Likewise, they rejected all attempts to create new realities on the ground, including illegitimate self-rule initiatives, under the pretext of combating terrorism, and also reaffirmed their opposition to the illegal seizure and transfer of oil revenues that should belong to the Syrian Arab Republic.

They also condemned continued Israeli military attacks in Syria in violation of international law and undermining the sovereignty of Syria and neighboring countries as well as endangering the stability and security in the region and called for the cessation of such attacks. The international community must prevent the military adventurism of the Israeli regime before it reaches to an uncontrollable level.

On the political process, they emphasized the important role of the Constitutional Committee, reaffirmed their support to its work, emphasized the importance of ensuring respect to its terms of reference and rules of procedure, and stressed that the Committee’s work should be governed by a sense of compromise and constructive engagement without foreign interference and externally imposed timelines.

The Astana guarantors also expressed grave concern at the humanitarian situation in Syria, rejected all unilateral sanctions, and, recognizing the COVID-19 pandemic as a profound challenge to Syria’s socio-economic and humanitarian situations, called upon the wider UN system to prioritize the vaccination inside Syria.

The application of unilateral sanctions against the Syrian people only further exacerbate the situation and prolong both the crisis and the sufferings of the people. Such sanctions are unlawful, inhumane and unjustifiable, and must therefore come to an immediate end.

Given the important role that the improvement of the humanitarian situation can play in advancing the political settlement, they called upon the international community to enhance the assistance to Syria, including for the restoration of basic infrastructure assets, such as hospitals and water and power supply facilities.

They also highlighted the need to facilitate safe and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their original places of residence in Syria, and called upon the international community to provide appropriate contributions to that end.

Mounting political and economic pressures on Syria or making multiple preconditions for the peaceful settlement of the crisis has proven to be counterproductive. Reconstruction of the country and the return of refugees and displaced persons must go hand in hand with the political process. They are interlinked, mutually inclusive and mutually reinforcing.

Finally, Iran reiterates its commitment to political resolution of this crisis and will continue supporting the people and Government of Syria to restore the unity and territorial integrity of their country.

I thank you, Madam President.