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
(Syria – Chemical)”
New York, 3 June 2021
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Mr. President,
I congratulate you for presiding over the Security Council this month.
As a major victim in contemporary history of the most systematic use of chemical weapons, Iran once again condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere and under any circumstances.
As a staunch advocate of the prohibition of the use of chemical weapons, we share the views that the use of these inhumane weapons must not be tolerated.
While this rule must be seriously upheld, it must not be politicized or exploited to mount political pressure against others to advance narrow national interests or to pursue certain geopolitical objectives. This is indeed as poisonous as the chemical weapon itself.
While ensuring the prohibition of the use of chemical weapons is a must, we all know well that this will not and cannot happen in isolation.
To that end, we need, first and foremost, to ensure the full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
Moreover, we must uphold and ensure the authority and credibility of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
It is however a source of deep concern that in recent years Western countries have exploited the CWC and politicized the OPCW’s work in order to advance their narrow interests in Syria.
This has seriously undermined the Convention; resulted in a deep legitimacy and credibility crisis for the OPCW; sowed the seeds of division among its Member States; and challenged the longstanding consensual decision-making tradition in disarmament and non-proliferation fora.
In this process, the OPCW has been forced to use flawed procedures, defective methodologies, fabricated information, as well as an improper and broken chain of custody.
Additionally, that process totally has failed to acknowledge the strategic decision of Syria to accede to the Convention as well as its unprecedented cooperation in fulfilling its relevant obligations, including by expeditiously presenting its initial declaration and verifiably destroying all its 27 chemical weapons production facilities.
Indeed, the OPCW process on Syria is but a clear regression from the very basic norms of impartiality and professionalism. It is also obvious that such a process will definitely lead to erroneous conclusions.
Finally, in the threshold of the 25th anniversary of the CWC’s entry into force and the OPCW’s establishment, we call for enhanced efforts to uphold the authority of the OPCW and the full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation of the CWC and its universality. We stand ready to actively and constructively contribute to such efforts.
I thank you, Mr. President.