Explanation of Vote of the Islamic Republic of Iran

On Draft Resolution L.37: “Strengthening of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region”

Before the First Committee, UNGA 76

New York, 2 November 2021

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

Mr. Chairman, 

I have taken the floor to explain the position of my delegation on draft resolution L.37 entitled “Strengthening of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region”.

On L.37, Iran voted in favor of operative paragraph 2 of this draft resolution, which calls for the elimination of all causes of tension in the region along with the promotion of just and lasting solutions to its persistent problems. More importantly, our support for this paragraph is based on its call to ensure the withdrawal of foreign forces of occupation while respecting the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of all countries of the region as well as the right of peoples to self-determination, including full adherence to the principles of non-use or threat of use of force and the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force. These are the basic principles of international law and enjoy our strong support.

My delegation also voted in favor of operative paragraph 5 of this draft resolution as it highlights the importance of adherence to all of the multilaterally negotiated legal instruments on disarmament and non-proliferation. Israel is the only case in point. Therefore, this is in line with the repeated calls by successive NPT Review Conferences on Israel to accede, without any delay and precondition as a non-nuclear-weapon party, to the NPT.

However, my delegation did not participate in the action on this draft resolution as a whole as this draft resolution has not factually reflected the realities in the region and the situation in the occupied territories, including the continued killing of innocent Palestinian civilians in the occupied territories of Palestine and the imposition by the Israeli regime of the most severe blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.