Iranian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Majid Takht-Ravanchi on Friday renewed condemnation in the strongest possible terms the use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere, and under any circumstances.
The full text of the statement by Takht Ravanchi at the United Nations Security Council on “the situation in the Middle East – Syria / chemical” is as follows:
In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful,
Mr. President,
First, I would like to congratulate you on assuming the Presidency of the Council for the month of October and assure you of the full cooperation of my delegation.
As a major victim of chemical weapons in contemporary history, Iran continues to condemn in the strongest possible terms the use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere, and under any circumstances. Iran also reiterates its call for the balanced, full, and non-discriminatory implementation of the CWC and upholding the authority of the OPCW. In the past several years, based on unsubstantiated allegations, the processes of the CWC, OPCW, and the Security Council have been abused against the Syrian Government. However, the fact is that in 2014, the head of the Joint Mission to Eliminate Chemical Weapons in Syria, in her final report to this Council, confirmed that Syria has fulfilled all its commitments and that its entire chemical stockpiles have been destroyed. Later, the OPCW also confirmed the destruction of the entire chemical stockpile of Syria and all its 27 production facilities. Now, these facts as well as the Syrian government’s significant cooperation with the OPCW and the UN, including its provision to the OPCW of over 80 monthly reports and a large amount of information are being neglected. Such unproductive policies have not contributed to the resolution of outstanding questions.