Statement by

H.E. Mr. Majid Takht Ravanchi

Ambassador and Permanent Representative

of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations

Before the United Nations Security Council

On “Enhancing cooperation between the United Nations and

regional and subregional organizations in enhancing confidence-building

and dialogue in conflict prevention and resolution”

New York, 19 April 2021

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

Mr. President,

Maintenance of international peace and security has a prominent place in the United Nations Charter which, in turn, attaches great importance to the “prevention” of threats to the peace and the “peaceful settlement” of international disputes.

Even though the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security is conferred on the Security Council, a role is also reserved, in Chapter VIII of the Charter, for “regional arrangements or agencies” for dealing with such matters.

Taking into account the growing threats to regional and international peace and security, the use of the capacity of regional organizations in the prevention and peaceful resolution of international disputes and conflicts should therefore be duly taken into account.

In our view, neither can the Council disregard the potentials of regional arrangements in conflict prevention and resolution, nor can such arrangements substitute for the Council. Therefore, resorting to regional organizations must be considered as subsidiary and complementary means for the Security Council in discharging its Charter-based duties.

While we can recall the exemplary role played by certain regional organizations in confidence building, promoting dialogue, and preventing or settling international disputes at the regional level, it is quite obvious that the success of such efforts is inter alia dependent, to a large extent, on the actual technical and professional, legal and political capacities of concerned regional agencies.

Likewise, the independence, impartiality, professionalism, and rule-based approach of the concerned regional organization is also key to the success and effectiveness of its efforts in enhancing regional confidence and dialogue.

Accordingly, all regional arrangements or agencies that intend to undertake activities authorized by Chapter VIII of the Charter, must act in full conformity with the Charter, strictly observe the principle of transparency, and seriously avoid politicization and selective approaches.

It must also be stressed that according to Article 52(2) of the Charter, activities authorized by Chapter VIII can only be undertaken with respect to members of the concerned regional arrangements or agencies, and of course with the explicit consent of the relevant members.

Furthermore, such arrangements must not be abused by those members seeking to impose their will on the countries of the concerned region, both members and non-members of the concerned regional agency. Instead of building confidence, in practice, it will lead to mistrust.

In the same vein, as stipulated in Article 53(1) of the Charter, “no enforcement action shall be taken under regional arrangements or by regional agencies without the authorization of the Security Council”.

In addition to regional organizations, individual regional countries have also an important role to play in launching regional dialogue, building trust and confidence, settling disputes and preventing and resolving conflicts. This is of utmost importance in such a volatile region as the Persian Gulf, where there is no regional organization encompassing all regional countries.

In this context, during the seventy-fourth session of the General Assembly, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran proposed the Hormuz Peace Endeavour (known as HOPE), the objective of which is to launch a genuine dialogue within the region with the active and constructive engagement of all regional countries based on mutual respect, inclusivity and adherence to such common principles as dialogue and mutual respect; respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of international borders; peaceful settlement of all disputes; rejection of the threat and use of force; non-aggression and non-intervention in the internal or external affairs of other States; and rejection of and non-participation in coalitions and alliances against fellow States.

This initiative, which has so far received positive reactions from a number of regional countries, can indeed create a proper venue for all States of the Persian Gulf region to work together towards establishing a safer and more stable and prosperous region.

The Islamic Republic of Iran stands ready to fully engage in dialogue with countries of the region and the United Nations – within the context of Security Council resolution 598 (1987) -- to discuss all aspects of the HOPE initiative.

I thank you, Mr. President.