Nournews: Mohammad Reza Aref, Iran’s First Vice President, met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday afternoon local time, on the sidelines of the Third Conference of Landlocked Developing Countries. In the meeting, he referred to the Zionist regime’s military aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran and stated: “We remain fully committed to all international laws and regulations. The United States has never been able to prove that Iran seeks non-peaceful nuclear purposes. Yet, in the recent war, it supported the Zionist regime’s aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
He continued: “The Islamic Republic of Iran accepted a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds. Despite being constantly threatened with war, Iran is a civilized nation committed to peace and has never initiated any conflict.”
Aref warned that such acts of aggression risk becoming a norm across countries and destabilizing the region, adding: “Had the United Nations taken stronger and more appropriate actions, we would not be witnessing today’s tragedies in Palestine and Gaza.”
Referring to the situation in Gaza as “barbaric and savage behavior in the modern era,” he said: “We expect the United Nations to act more effectively and increase its support to deter the Zionist regime. The Islamic Republic of Iran has always cooperated with the UN in the pursuit of global peace. We also expect the UN to condemn the Iranophobia campaign orchestrated by the West.”
Guterres praises Iran’s civilization, condemns illegality of attack
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, for his part, praised Iran’s rich history and its contribution to global civilization. He recalled his tenure as UN High Commissioner for Refugees, during which he witnessed Iran’s commendable cooperation regarding refugees.
He emphasized that the attack by Israel and the United States on Iran was illegal and in violation of international law, stressing the need to uphold legal frameworks and maintain the ceasefire.
“The Iranian nuclear issue must be resolved diplomatically,” Guterres said, “and the United Nations stands ready to use all its resources to facilitate a peaceful diplomatic resolution.”
He also stressed the importance of respecting Palestinian rights amid the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
Iran achieves record 20m tons in transit through regional cooperation
Earlier on Tuesday, Mohammad Reza Aref addressed the Third Conference of Landlocked Developing Countries, held in Awaza, Turkmenistan, under UN auspices and attended by the UN Secretary-General and heads of various states and officials.
Referring again to the Zionist regime’s attack on Iran, Aref emphasized: “With the U.S. backing Israel and even directly intervening in the aggression against Iran’s peaceful nuclear sites, the negotiation table has been destroyed, and global distrust in American commitments has once again been confirmed.”
He reiterated that: “The Islamic Republic of Iran has never initiated a war but will fully defend its territorial integrity against any aggression and will pursue compensation for the material and moral damages caused by the U.S. and Zionist regime’s attacks on its people and development infrastructure.”
Addressing the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, described as the most blockaded area on Earth, Aref condemned attacks on lines of starving people waiting for bread, water, or aid, calling them: “A clear example of war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
He concluded: “The international community and self-proclaimed human rights advocates must be held accountable for the bloodshed of thousands of innocent people in the death traps set by the U.S. and the Zionist regime in aid distribution centers, as well as the deaths of hundreds of children, women, and the elderly due to a lack of medicine, food, and water in Gaza.”
NOURNEWS