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HRC 59 - Statement by Mr. Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign affairs of Iran - 20 June 2025
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6:59
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MP4
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437.2 MB
Teleprompter
Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, I hereby declare open the 10th meeting of the 59th Session of the Human Rights Council.
Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, I now have the honour to give the floor to His Excellency Mr Syed Abbas Arakchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
You have the floor, Excellency.
Mr Allah Rahman Al Rahim, Mr.
President, distinguished delegates, I am Sayed Abbas Arafchi, Foreign Minister of Iran, a peace loving nation inheriting one of the most ancient civilizations that has made significant contribution to human civilization, culture and ethics.
Now this nation of nearly 100 million population is subject to an outrageous act of aggression by a regime that has been committing a horrible genocide in Palestine for the past two years and that is occupying the lands of neighbouring countries.
Ladies and gentlemen, I stand before this August body to remind you of the legal and ethical responsibility each and every State Member and observer of the Human Rights Council has to stand up against this grave injustice.
Israel has launched an unprovoked aggression on Iran in a stark violation of Article 2, paragraph four of the Charter and in bold defiance of all the principles and rules that this Council stands for.
This is an unjust war imposed on my people since early hours of Friday 13 June, when Israel perpetrated a mix of unlawful and criminal operations against off duty military personnel, university professors and ordinary people.
Hundreds of my fellow Iranians have been killed and injured following Israel's surprise armed attacks and terrorist operations on residential areas, public infrastructures, hospitals, health centres and of course the Foreign Ministry.
Our peaceful nuclear facilities have also been targeted, despite they're being under full monitoring of IAEA and despite the fact that attacking such facilities are absolutely banned under international law.
Israel attacks on nuclear facilities are grave war crimes, given also the danger of environmental and health catastrophe as the result of radiological leakage.
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President, Iran, a founding member of the United Nations system, rightfully expects each and everyone of you to stand for justice, rule of law and basic tenants of humanity and ethics.
Iran is under a merciless, merciless act of aggression.
This is crystal clear.
Fact must not be allowed to be twisted upside down by Israel and E backers.
Israel aggression on Iran cannot and must not be justified by any legal or moral standards.
Any justification for this unjust and criminal war would be tantamount to complicity.
Iran is defending itself against the barbaric aggression.
We are entitled, tasked and determined to defend our territorial integrity, national sovereignty and security with all force.
This is our inherent right, as also clearly recognised under Article 51 of Charter.
Dear colleagues, the peace and rule of law are at serious stake.
As the result of Israel's unlawful invasion of Iran.
Israel is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.
International humanitarian law, already badly undermined as a consequence of Israel's relentless atrocities in occupied Palestine and elsewhere, is now under another extremely serious danger, as Israel is committing grave violations of 1949 Geneva Conventions.
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President, Switzerland is the custodian of Geneva Conventions and Protocols on IHL and has an important responsibility in this regard.
Indeed, every State party to 1949 Convention shall shoulder the responsibility under these Conventions, in particular Common Articles One and three of these Conventions.
Dear colleagues, we were attacked in the midst of an ongoing diplomatic process.
We were supposed to meet with Americans on 15 June to to craft a very promising agreement for peaceful resolution of the issues fabricated over our peaceful nuclear programme.
It was a betrayal of diplomacy and an unprecedented blow to the foundation of international law and UN system.
Let me be clear, if there is any use of costly systems and mechanisms we have created for the past 80 decades to preserve human rights and dignity, now is the time to do it.
We need action now, otherwise the whole UN based international law system would corrode badly.
This is a historic moment for human civilisation when a civilised nation has come under an unjust war, war of aggression.
The world, every estate, every UN mechanism and body has to be alarmed and has to act now to stop the aggressor, to end impunity and to hold the criminals accountable for their unending atrocities and crimes in our region.
This is a call from someone who has allocated his whole life to dialogue and diplomacy, but who also is a veteran of an imposed war by Saddam regime and knows how to defend his beloved motherland.
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Thank you, Excellency.
Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, We will now take a short break before we proceed with the interactive dialogue with the independent expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Thank you all.