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 “Implementation of the note by the President of the

Security Council (S/2017/507): ensuring transparency, efficiency and effectiveness in the work of the Security Council: Agility and innovation: lessons for the future from the COVID-19 pandemic”

New York, 16 June 2021

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

Mr. President,

The existence of a combination of old and yet unsettled conflicts as well as a rapidly growing number of threats to international peace and security underscores the importance of the Council’s “agility” and readiness to respond particularly to extraordinary circumstances. It is one of the critical elements for the Council’s prompt, effective and continuous functioning as required in Charter’s Articles 24(1) and 28(1).

At the same time, improving the Council’s efficiency and effectiveness must always be considered a work in progress given the evolving nature and scope of threats to international peace and security.

The most effective way to ensure the Council’s transparency, efficiency and effectiveness is indeed to reform and evolve it to a truly transparent, rule-based, and above all, accountable organ. That’s why the Council’s “working methods” is among the five core issues within the ongoing debates on the Security Council reform.

While in the past few decades certain aspects of the Council’s working methods have been relatively improved, they have not met the expectations of the entire membership as they have been very few and slow.

Accordingly, parallel to debates on the subject within the “Intergovernmental Negotiations”, efforts to achieve progress in this regard must be redoubled, particularly within the Council itself.

The innovative approach taken by the Council during the COVID-19 pandemic enabled it to adapt itself with a new and unprecedented situation and ensured its continued functioning. This highlights that the Council’s agility must be continually improved and strengthened, including by adopting innovative methods and proper use of advanced technologies.

Yet, however important, the Council’s agility alone can neither ensure its effectiveness nor replace the genuine political will and spirit of responsibility of its Member States needed to deal with different challenges facing the Council.

During the recent 11-day Israeli regime’s assault against Gaza, in which more than 250 civilians were killed and nearly 2,000 others injured and countless homes, hospitals, schools and mosques destroyed, we witnessed how irresponsibly and brazenly a permanent member of the Council prevented the issuance of even a simple Council’s press statement calling for ceasefire.

This, and of course the historical inaction of the Security Council in ending the occupation of Palestine, clearly attest the fact that parallel to enhancing the Council’s agility and transparency, there must be serious efforts to promote the accountability of this body and its Member States and to ensure that the Council acts in full accordance with international law and the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations.

According to Charter’s Article 24, in fulfilling its tasks, the Security Council has a legal, political and moral responsibility to act promptly, effectively, properly and responsibly.

This means the Council must avoid inaction, omission or ultra-virus decisions or consideration of situations that do not constitute a threat to international peace and security or the issues that are related to internal matters of States.

Likewise, its members shall decide based not on their own national interests or that of the geopolitical or geographical groups they belong to but based on the common interests of the entire membership of the United Nations.

The Council is responsible before the Member States on behalf of whom it acts and must therefore remain accountable to them. This indeed is the raison d’être of the Charter’s Article 24(3) in obliging the Council to submit annual and special reports to the General Assembly where all UN Member States are represented.

Full compliance with the Charter is critical in preventing the Council from increasing, excessive and expeditious resort to its Chapter VII functions, especially given the fact that it has imposed sanctions in situations where no action was even necessary, and as a result, the sovereign rights of States as well as human rights of their citizens have been seriously violated.

This can also prevent further deepening of the trust and confidence deficit and credibility and legitimacy crisis that the Council already faces.

Continued improvement of the Council’s working methods must be considered a common responsibility of Council members and in general the entire UN membership, and Iran stands ready to positively contribute to such endeavors.

I thank you, Mr. President.