Explanation of Vote of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Before the First Committee, UNGA 76

On Draft Resolution L.49: “Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty”

New York, 27 October 2021

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

Madam Chair, 

I have taken the floor to explain the position of my delegation after the vote regarding draft resolution L.49 on the CTBT.

On L.49, as a Treaty’s signatory, Iran voted in favor of this draft resolution.

The principal objective of the Treaty is to terminate the development and qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons and end the development of new advanced types of nuclear weapons. Twenty-five years after the Treaty’s adoption, achieving this objective has become ever more elusive.

Unfortunately, almost all nuclear-weapon States, in particular the U.S., are modernizing and qualitatively upgrading their nuclear weapon systems by using new technologies, including through sub-critical testing and simulations. While this undermines the CTBT’s object and purpose, it is a source of serious regret that there is no call made in this draft resolution for the nuclear-weapon States to refrain from such measures.

There are also other certain aspects in this draft on which my delegation expresses its serious reservations: 

Firstly, pending the Treaty’s entry into force, all of the activities of the Preparatory Commission are for the purpose of carrying out the necessary preparations for the Treaty’s effective implementation and for preparing for the first session of the Conference of the States Parties. Therefore, all of the works with regard to the verification regime, at any stage of development, should be considered, as the necessary preparations for an independent and reliable means to ensure compliance with the Treaty once it enters into force.

Secondly, while we acknowledge the potential “civil and scientific benefits, which might be available to States Signatories, by the CTBT global monitoring system” as reflected in the draft resolution, we stress that such benefits shall neither distract our attentions from the fundamental objectives of the Treaty nor be used as a pretext for its de facto operationalization. Such benefits are not within the inherent mandate of the Treaty. Therefore, the Preparatory Commission should decide on the relevant requests on a case-by-case basis.  

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.