Statement by
Mr. Heidar Ali Balouji
First Counselor of the Permanent Mission
of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations
On Protocols and other Regular Contents
Before the Second Session of the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction
New York, 1 December 2021
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Mr. President,
Similar to other treaties establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone, the treaty on the WMDFZ in the Middle East should include a protocol as an annex to the treaty, albeit with a broader scope. However, its integral part rests within the signing and ratifying of the five nuclear-weapon states recognized under the NPT, namely China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
These protocols, which are legally binding, should call upon the nuclear-weapon states to respect the status of the zone and meet the obligations regarding prohibitions specified in the treaty.
As negative security assurances, the NWSs must not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction against the Participating States of the treaty.
Other regular contents need to be discussed and agreed upon. These may include peaceful settlement of disputes, amendments, duration, withdrawal, annexes, signature, ratification, accession, entry into force, reservations, depository and authentic texts.
The treaty should remain in force indefinitely. A withdrawal option for the Participating States and its conditions and requirements can be added. With the exception of the Treaty of Tlatelolco, which simply requires three months' advanced notice before a withdrawal can take effect, all of the NWFZ treaties require 12 months' advanced notice for a state party to end its treaty obligations.
Due to its sensitive situation and implications thereof, the treaty cannot be subject to any condition or reservation neither by the Participating States nor the NWSs.
The rest will follow the regular provisions in international law and similar treaties.
I thank you, Mr. President.