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 “Small Arms: the impact of the diversion

and trafficking of arms on peace and security”

New York, 22 November 2021

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

Mr. President,

We share the concerns about humanitarian, socio-economic and security consequences of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and their diversion to unauthorized recipients.

The “Program of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects” (PoA) is the only universal framework to address these multifaceted challenges.

This non-legally binding voluntary instrument, which has emerged from a consensus-based process within the United Nations and greatly contributed to mobilizing international efforts against the illicit trade in small arms, remains valid and relevant.

As a victim of foreign-backed terrorists, and faced with the threat of organized crime and trafficking in drugs linked to the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, the Islamic Republic of Iran highly values the Program of Action and calls for ensuring its balanced, effective and full implementation including through identifying and addressing its implementation challenges.

As has clearly been articulated by the PoA, “Governments bear the primary responsibility for preventing, combating and eradicating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects” and, accordingly, they must “define the problems associated with such trade and find ways of resolving them”.

To ensure the PoA’s full implementation, capacities and priorities of States and regions must be taken into account, and in this context, priority must be accorded to providing the developing countries with sufficient financial resources, required technological means and technical knowledge, including the transfer of related technology, which must be sustained, sufficient, non-discriminatory, non-selective and unconditional and upon the request of the States concerned taking into account their policies and priorities, as the PoA has recognized that the regulation of trade in small arms is primarily a national responsibility.

In all efforts to combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, the right of each State to manufacture, export, import and retain such weapons must be fully respected. This of course is among the requirements of exercising the inherent right to self-defense reaffirmed in Charter’s Article 51.

According to the PoA, the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects sustains conflicts, exacerbates violence, contributes to the displacement of civilians, undermines respect for international humanitarian law, impedes the provision of humanitarian assistance to victims of armed conflict and fuels crime and terrorism.

In this respect, the Security Council may deem it appropriate, in certain cases, to consider and address the impact of illicit trade in small arms and light weapons or their diversion to unauthorized recipients in conflict situations. This of coursed must be conducted “without undermining licit trade” in such arms.

Additionally, the scope of such efforts by the Council must be limited to those aspects that are related to serious adverse impacts of diversion of, and illicit trade in, small arms and light weapons on the conflict concerned.

Adoption of a comprehensive approach is essential for finding a viable and long-term solution to this multifaceted challenge. This must be duly taken into account by the General Assembly and the PoA’s Review Conference.

I thank you, Mr. President.