Statement by

Mr. Seyed Mahdi Sajjadieh

Second Secretary

Department for Disarmament and Arms Control

 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran

At the First Committee, UNGA 77

On Thematic Discussions: Other WMDs

New York, 19 October 2022

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

Mr. Chair,

My delegation associates itself with the NAM statement delivered by Indonesia.

Mr. Chair,

I will focus only on the current agenda item and will not mix up with the nuclear weapons cluster as a certain delegation did.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, while reaffirming its commitment to a world free of chemical weapons, condemns their use anywhere, by anyone, and under any circumstances. We also support the full, effective and nondiscriminatory implementation of all Chemical Weapons Convention provisions.

The Convention is a unique and outstanding international agreement that bans a whole class of WMDs and has a verification system in the field of disarmament. Despite all of its ups and downs, the Convention has made significant progress since it came into force.

In light of this, it is quite concerning that recent undesirable developments have seriously damaged the Convention as a whole. A particular group of States Parties has turned the OPCW from a technical organization into one that is politicized and confrontational to further their narrow political goals. It goes without saying that if this approach were to persist, it would seriously and negatively affect the Convention's goals.

In terms of the main pillar of the Convention, it is imperative that the US, the sole possessor State, takes all necessary measures to expedite the completion of the destruction of its remaining chemical stockpiles at the earliest possible date as required under the Convention.

On another note, it should also be emphasized that the unilateral coercive measures imposed by the United States against the Islamic Republic of Iran have unfortunately hampered access to necessary medicine and equipment for Iranian chemical weapons victims. The Islamic Republic of Iran, as the largest victim of chemical weapons in contemporary history, attaches paramount importance to Article X and its humanitarian objectives.

Given the importance of international collaboration, developing States Parties should be assisted in their capacity building. This goal cannot be accomplished until developed States Parties engaged in meaningful international cooperation and made clear commitments. A crucial component in achieving the Convention's goals is the full, effective and nondiscriminatory implementation of Article XI.

It must be noted that the arbitrary export control mechanisms, along with illegal and unjustified unilateral coercive measures, are inconsistent with the objectives of the Convention.

The voted decisions made in recent years in the OPCW are not a good sign for its global credibility.

Furthermore, the viability of the CWC as well as the OPCW requires enforcing a consistent and apolitical approach; it is not just to put pressure on Syria while implementing its obligations based on the Convention and cooperating with the OPCW.  In the meantime, turning a blind eye to the clandestine chemical arsenal of the Israeli regime and its dangerous policies will not be acceptable.

In this context, some States Parties' unrestricted trading of chemicals with a regime that is not a party to the CWC poses a challenge to the universality of the CWC and establishing a Middle East zone free of WMDs.

The Islamic Republic of Iran considers that maintaining the consensus-building tradition, avoiding politicization, and implementing all Convention provisions fully and effectively are the best ways to strengthen the global norm against the use of chemical weapons. Other approaches include promoting universality, fostering international cooperation on peaceful uses of chemistry as well as strengthening national and international capacities for assistance and protection.

Mr. Chair,

Natural disease outbreaks, the results of lab accidents, and the deliberate use of disease as a weapon are just a few examples of the diverse and ever-evolving biological threat spectrum. Iran is a staunch supporter of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and calls for its balanced, full, effective, and non-discriminatory implementation to sustain the current international framework.

After the US objection to strengthening the BWC in 1996, the resumption of the negotiations on a legally binding protocol for the Convention is subject to withdrawing the US’ objection to strengthening the Convention and its reservation to the 1925 Geneva Protocol.

I should underscore that the universality of this Convention, like other similar instruments, requires the accession of the Israeli regime to the BWC and adherence to its obligations. Otherwise, security in the Middle East

will be endangered as caused by the other threats of this regime.

Mr. Chair,

Finally, we all share the responsibility to eradicate such lethal weapons of mass destruction from the planet. Iran will continue to support any sincere international efforts to uphold this cause.

I thank you, Mr. Chair.