Iran Calls for Collective Action against Israeli War Crimes

Abbas Araqchi delivered a speech to the 10th UNAOC Global Forum, held in Portugal’s Cascais on Tuesday.

What follows is the text of his statement to the conference, whose theme was “United in Peace: Restoring Trust Reshaping the Future”.

In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

Mr. President, Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to begin by conveying my gratitude to the United Nations and the Republic of Portugal for organizing and hosting this important event.

This Forum brings to mind my country's concerns at the beginning of this millennium, which prompted Iran to propose in 2001 the concept of Dialogue Among Civilizations. This proposal was unanimously adopted by the General Assembly.

Dialogue, engagement and negotiation are rooted in the Iranian civilization. Throughout history, people of different ethnicities and backgrounds have met in the Iranian Plateau where the spirit of tolerance, mutual respect and cultural coexistence have prevailed among Iranian people. Our famous poets and globally renowned philosophers have propagated these values.

Throughout history, we have peacefully coexisted with other people and nations, while we have never bowed to injustice, oppression, aggression and subjugation. Iran's culture and civilization have remained steadfast despite all the odds.

The 10th UNAOC Global Forum coincides with a critical juncture for humanity. The Charter of the United Nations, as an outstanding achievement of human civilization, and the lofty values of peace and justice it embodies, is under significant threat, and the effectiveness of UN bodies, especially the Security Council, is seriously undermined.

If we are to address the global issues pertinent to peace and security through restoring trust and uniting in peace, we cannot remain silent about the situation in West Asia where humanity and shared human values are being slaughtered and degraded before our very eyes.

Our region is under unprecedented distress due to an ongoing genocide in occupied Palestine that has been aptly characterized by UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese as "colonial erasure" of a whole nation.

Beyond atrocities that have claimed lives and limbs of tens of thousands of innocent human beings, most of them women and kids, Israel is systematically destroying the region’s historical and cultural heritage. Historical and religious monuments, symbols of coexistence and civilizational interaction, have been deliberately targeted and annihilated. These wicked destructions are not only war crimes but a crime against all humanity.

Let me share a few observations with you on the current situation in our region:

1) Current carnage and aggressions against Palestinian and Lebanese people have far reaching ramifications for the whole world. We are all obliged under international law to assist the Palestinian people in their lawful and legitimate struggle to secure their right of self-determination against occupation and apartheid.

2) The ongoing atrocities committed by Israel against Palestinian and Lebanese people have long put the international community to the test. The Security Council have been kept handcuffed and the UN justice system, ICJ and ICC, are coerced into inaction. We need to take immediate, collective, and effective measures to restore the credibility of the United Nations and uphold international law.

3) Remaining impartial in this war not only shows indifference but also contributes to Israel's genocidal acts. We need to disallow normalization of atrocity, crimes and colonial erasure in occupied Palestine.

The ICC arrest warrants for the Israeli regime's prime minister is a promising, though very late, step toward serving justice and holding the Israeli criminals accountable for committing genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. We also need to urge the implementation of ICJ's provisional measures on preventing further Israeli genocide in Gaza.

4) We fully respect Judaism as one of the Abrahamic religions and also have full respect for the Jewish people. It is extremely regrettable that the Israeli regime's criminals are defaming Judaism by committing all kinds of crimes and atrocities. We are all smart enough not to attribute the inhuman behavior of Israeli regime to the Jews and Judaism. In the same vein, we should also not let the Israeli regime stamp out any voice of criticism by labeling them as 'anti-Semite'.

Mr. President,

The Islamic Republic of Iran firmly believes that the only path to guarantee global peace lies in returning to the values of interaction, cooperation, and mutual respect among civilizations and cultures. We must focus on our commonalities and strengthen shared human values instead of spreading division and hostility.

History has shown that justice, truth, and coexistence always triumph over oppression and tyranny. Let us learn from our shared past and commit to a future where civilizations collaborate for the betterment of all humanity.

Thank you.