Why it matters:
The committee oversees issues directly related to international peace and security, exactly the arena where Iran is currently clashing with the U.S. over alleged threats of military force.
The big picture:
At a Wednesday meeting at UN headquarters in New York, Iran secured the vice-chair position and a seat on the committee's board of directors.
The Special Committee on the Charter was established in 1974 to address provisions of the UN Charter, promote peaceful settlement of disputes, and strengthen international law.
Its mandate includes preserving the credibility of the international legal system and examining proposals to improve UN effectiveness.
Between the lines:
The election comes just one day after Iran's UN mission sent an urgent letter to the Security Council warning that U.S. threats to use military bases against it constitute a "flagrant violation" of the UN Charter.
Iran's new leadership role puts it in a position to influence discussions on Charter interpretation at a time when it accuses the U.S. of undermining those very principles.
The committee's work has taken on heightened significance as "the international order is facing serious challenges amid violations of the UN principles by some of its members with their unilateral approaches," according to the announcement.
The bottom line:
Iran will now help steward the very legal framework it accuses the United States of violating, a diplomatic positioning that could amplify Tehran's arguments at the UN.
Hossein Amiri - Hossein Vaez
