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 “The Situation in the Middle East,

Including the Palestinian Question”

New York, 22 April 2021

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

Mr. President,

The situation in Palestine once again has been exacerbated, the brutalities of the Israeli regime against the Palestinians have continued unabated, and the adventuristic and destabilizing practices of the Israeli regime have been intensified.

Meanwhile, the dead silence and the decades long, utter and inexcusable inaction of the Security Council-- resulting from systematic shielding of the Israeli regime by the United States -- with respect to Palestine has further emboldened the Israeli regime to commit more crimes with more brutality while enjoying total immunity. This, in turn, has resulted in trust and confidence deficit and credibility and legitimacy crisis of the Council.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has further worsened the situation in Palestine and made the life more difficult for the Palestinians who have already been under the wanton oppression of the occupying forces, the Israeli regime has also exploited the state of emergency and lockdown to accelerate some of its oppressive measures against the Palestinians.

For example, in furthering its unlawful settlement plans, the Israeli regime has continued further confiscation of Palestinian lands, homes and properties in particular in and around Al-Quds Al-Sharif, leading to the forced displacement of many Palestinians.

All such settlement related measures are unlawful, violate international law and binding Security Council resolutions, and must therefore come to an immediate end.

In this context, the objective of the regime, pursued through forced displacement of Palestinians and their replacement with settlers, is to alter the demographic composition and character of Palestine, particularly the demographic composition and Islamic and Arab identity of Al-Quds Al-Sharif.

This indeed is not mere discrimination and apartheid; it is rather a deliberate systematic and massive ethnic cleansing aimed at Judaization of Palestine. All such oppressive and inhumane practices are clear violations of international human rights and humanitarian law and, as manifestations of war crimes, entail the international responsibility of the Israeli regime.

The international community, particularly the Security Council must therefore hold the Israeli regime accountable for commissioning such crimes and compel it to immediately cease all those acts.

Another criminal act committed by the Israeli regime, which has continued in the last 14 years, is the unlawful blockade of the Gaza Strip. This is a systematic collective punishment of the civilian population, causing serious humanitarian and socioeconomic crises.

This inhumane blockade, the negative impacts of which have also been severely exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, must immediately come to an end. The silence and inaction of the Council with respect to this unlawful cat is unacceptable.

We also condemn all provocative measures by the Israeli occupying forces against Al-Aqsa Mosque as well as the aggressions against worshippers during the holy month of Ramadan.

At the regional level, the Israeli regime has continued its military adventurism and destabilizing practices, including by invading some regional countries, particularly Syria.

The Security Council has a special responsibility in ending this situation and must therefore compel the Israeli regime to end the occupation of all Palestinian territories, the occupied Syrian Golan and parts of Lebanon.

The Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates its support for the just cause of the Palestinian people and the full realization of all their inalienable rights, particularly their inherent right to self-determination and to establish an independent Palestinian State throughout Palestine, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Before concluding, I must categorically reject all fabrications and accusations against my country made today by the representative of the Israeli regime. His desperate attempt to portray Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities as a threat is aimed at diverting attentions away from the nuclear weapons of the Israel regime, which continue to threaten the peace and security of the region and beyond.

It is no surprise that the Zionist regime is furious about the ongoing discussions in Vienna for the full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The same regime that did its best to sabotage the nuclear talks between 2013 and 2015, is hard at work to derail the current talks.

Indeed, through systematic deception and playing the victim, the Israeli regime intends to cover up its oppressions and crimes as well as its adventuristic regional policies, the latest of which is its dangerous, reckless sabotage at the Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant of Iran, causing the disruption of the operations of this nuclear facility.

The deliberate targeting of a highly sensitive safeguarded nuclear facility with the high risk of potential release of radioactive material constitutes reckless criminal nuclear terrorism, and those who planned, ordered, participated and carried out this cowardly act must be held accountable.

While the security Council must fulfill its Charter-based obligations in preventing the Israeli regime’s provocative and disruptive measures that continue to threaten the peace and security of the region and beyond, we reserve our right to vigorously defend our interests and citizens against any unlawful acts.

I thank you, Mr. President.