Statement by

H.E. Mr. Mehdi Danesh Yazdi

Deputy Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran

To the United Nations

before
the Security Council

on
" Implementation of resolutions 1540 (2004) and 1673 (2006)"

New York- February 23, 2007
........................................

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Mr. President

Today, the Council is debating a matter of major importance to the international community. The continued existence and development of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and the prospect of non-state actors acquiring such weapons are serious threats that the whole world is facing.

Besides, the possibility of use or threat of use of these weapons by those who possess them is a major threat to the international peace and security. Given the gravity and seriousness of these threats, we have been always unwavering in our support for all efforts genuinely aimed at dealing with this menace within the parameters of international law.

As a State Party to all international instruments banning WMD, namely NPT, CWC, BTWC and the 1925 Geneva Protocol, and based on its ideological as well as international commitments, the Islamic Republic of Iran has always considered possessing, acquiring, developing, and using WMD as inhumane, immoral and illegal, and believes that the most effective way of preventing non-state actors from acquiring WMD is through the total elimination of such weapons.

Iran , as a latest victim of weapons of mass destruction in recent history, strongly believes that the international community must strive to ensure that the nightmare created by the US against the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki would never befall any other people again. Therefore, the only absolute guarantee is the total elimination of nuclear weapons as stipulated by the NPT and emphasized in the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice.

Mr. President

The growing risk of acquiring WMD by terrorists and non-state actors has been a matter of grave concern for all of us in the international community in recent years. The recent heinous terrorist attack in Iraq in which chlorine gas was used by terrorists and resulted in the death and injury of many innocent Iraqi people put on display, once again, that how serious this appalling threat is. The same concern prompted the general membership in 2003 to adopt resolution A/RES/57/83 in the General Assembly which calls upon all Member States to support international efforts to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.

The adoption of resolution 1540 and the formation of its relevant Committee by the Security Council was also a step along the same line. By taking this initiative, the Council intended to fill the gap in the regime of non-proliferation. However, a number of serious and important questions were arising at the time – that still remain valid- especially on the compatibility of the resolution with the letter and spirit of the UN Charter as well as the international disarmament instruments.

While mindful of the importance of the tasks with which the 1540 Committee has been entrusted, we should make every efforts to ensure that actions by the Security Council would not undermine the UN Charter and existing multilateral treaties on weapons of mass destruction and international Organisations established in this regard, and nor would they encroach the prerogative and authority of the General Assembly.

We believe that a major deficiency in the resolutions 1540 and 1673 is their silence on the essential and important issue of disarmament. Equally noticeable, and also unfortunate, is the failure of these resolutions to acknowledge the linkage between non-proliferation and disarmament.

This negligence is in a sharp contrast to the relevant General Assembly resolutions and the will of the general membership that call for the urgent progress in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation in order to help maintain international peace and security and to contribute to global efforts against terrorism.

The Islamic Republic of Iran shares the view that the objectives of non-proliferation and disarmament are mutually reinforcing, and that the efforts directed towards non-proliferation should be paralleled by simultaneous efforts aimed at disarmament.

Mr. President

Iran has submitted two national reports to the 1540 Committee. As a State Party to all international instruments banning WMD, my country, even before the adoption of resolutions 1540 and 1673 has been implementing the measures that the said resolutions are calling for.

Iran has also enacted a set of national laws and regulations to ban, combat and to make punishable the smuggling and illicit trafficking of any kind of weapons and ammunitions.

However, we are of the strong view that provisions of these resolutions should not be interpreted or implemented in a manner that conflict with, or alter, the rights and obligations enshrined in the internationally negotiated instruments such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) as well as the Statute of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

As we have indicated time and again, Iran considers the pursuit and development of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes to be its inalienable right recognized under the NPT. Upholding the rights of State-parties to international treaties is as essential as ensuring respect for their obligations. Indeed, these regimes, including the NPT, are sustained by a balance between rights and obligations. Iran has clearly and continuously stressed that nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction have no place in its military doctrine. Therefore, referring to Iran 's peaceful nuclear program by very few in this meeting was an irrelevant and irresponsible move.

In order to dispel any doubt about our peaceful nuclear program, we have enabled the IAEA to carry out a series of inspections that amounts to the most robust inspection of any IAEA Member State . All reports by the IAEA since 2003 have been indicative of the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program, and the Agency has repeatedly reaffirmed that it "has not seen any diversion of nuclear material to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices” in Iran 's peaceful nuclear program. This has also been stressed by the distinguished Director General of IAEA in his various public statements.

It is however regrettable that despite all these unambiguous acknowledgements, an ill-intended and extensive campaign with political motivation has been at work attempting to distort and fabricate the facts and realities about Iran's peaceful nuclear program, as we have witnessed in today's meeting through the baseless allegations made against my country by the representatives of the United States, United Kingdom and the Israeli regime. Yet, in spite of the massive political and propaganda machine which is at work, no one in today's world can accept the convoluted logic that it is OK for them to have nuclear weapons and threaten others with their massive arsenals and aggressive policies, while crying wolf about others' peaceful nuclear programme.

We have demonstrated our resolve not to give in to the pressures emanating from groundless and unsubstantiated allegations and ulterior political motives. Iran has abided by its obligations under the international treaties, and continues to do so.

Thank you Mr. President.