Iran Press/Europe: The Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, traveled to The Hague, Netherlands, to participate in the 29th annual session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention. During this conference, he delivered a speech.
UN Must Sanction Zionist Regime
"The Zionist regime, with unconditional support from certain Western countries, particularly the United States, continues its crimes in Palestine and Lebanon and, unfortunately, enjoys immunity," he said.
"The United Nations Security Council must act to impose effective sanctions against the Zionist regime in accordance with Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Additionally, all countries should refrain from any economic, military, or arms cooperation with this regime," he added.
Condemnation of Zionist Chemical Weapons Use
He noted, "We condemn the Zionist regime's use of chemical weapons and other hazardous materials, including white phosphorus and depleted uranium, against the defenseless people of Palestine and Lebanon. We call on the Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into this matter and take necessary measures to protect the victims."
He said, "The arsenal of weapons of mass destruction held by the Israeli regime, including chemical weapons, poses a serious threat to regional and international peace and security. Therefore, it is essential to achieve the universality of the convention and for the international community to pressure the Zionist regime to join the convention and place all its chemical facilities under the supervision of the OPCW."
US Chemical Weapons Violations in Iraq
"The United States has a history of non-compliance with the convention. In 2003, after invading Iraq under the pretext of destroying weapons of mass destruction, the US and its allies, six years later, transferred and destroyed the chemical weapons found in Iraq without notifying the OPCW," he added.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly informed the US and other OPCW member states of these violations. Nevertheless, the US has never provided satisfactory answers to Iran's fundamental questions," he said.
Iran Demands Accountability
He added: "Moreover, in 2004 and 2008, the Islamic Republic of Iran raised concerns with the US about its violations of the convention, specifically regarding the clandestine supply of chemical weapons to the Zionist regime and other prohibited arms under the convention. No satisfactory response was ever received."
"Certain countries, particularly Germany and the United States, as the main suppliers of chemical materials to the Ba'athist regime in Iraq, are complicit in the chemical crimes against the Iranian people. These countries must be held accountable for their illegal actions at the international level and should take steps to compensate the Iranian chemical weapons victims," he noted.
He went on to say: "Victims of chemical weapons in Iran continue to suffer from the illegal sanctions imposed by Western countries, which restrict access to medicine and medical equipment. The OPCW must make serious and effective efforts to support these victims."
