Iran Press/ America: Zahra Ershadi made the remarks while addressing the Security Council meeting on 'The situation in the Middle East: (Syria).'
The Iranian envoy also rejected US accusations against Iran leveled by the American representative in the meeting and slammed the Zionists regime's continued attacks against Syria.
The text of her speech is as follows:
Mr. President,
I thank the UN Special Envoy and the Under-Secretary-General for their briefings.
The humanitarian situation in Syria remains dire, and the country's economic crisis continues to affect people.
The provision of humanitarian aid is essential, and political circumstances should not prevent humanitarian aid from reaching people in need. This must, however, be done with full respect for Syria's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national unity.
We welcome the adoption of Resolution 2642 (2022) and consider it an essential step toward addressing Syria's urgent needs.
The resolution expressly calls for early recovery projects and greater transparency in relief efforts. Furthermore, it emphasizes the critical importance of increasing cross-line delivery throughout Syria.
Mr. President,
The UN's first report on the implementation of the resolution emphasizes the importance of early recovery projects and claims that the lack of electricity has made it more difficult to access necessary essential services. According to the report, limited access to electricity has also hampered the provision of essential humanitarian assistance and other response activities, including hospital and clinic services, food production, and water distribution.
Given the severity of the situation, early recovery projects such as electricity projects are critical in re-establishing access to essential services and must not be affected by unilateral sanctions.
In this regard, the resolution's provisions and content are explicit, leaving no room for arbitrary interpretation or self-reading. We demand that the resolution be fully and effectively implemented.
We also demand that unilateral sanctions against Syria be lifted, as they impede the resolution's implementation.
Mr. President,
We trust that the special report of the Secretary-General, requested by Resolution 2642, will include general trends regarding unimpeded and secure United Nations cross-line operations, which should reach all of Syria, as well as early recovery projects, and accurate information on the humanitarian assistance provided through the United Nations humanitarian cross-border operations, including their transparency and the distribution mechanism.
Furthermore, an Informal Interactive Dialogue of the Security Council, as set out in the resolution, to review and monitor the implementation of this resolution on a regular basis could be an appropriate mechanism to allow the Council to keep track of how the resolution is being implemented effectively and fairly.
Mr. President,
Regarding the political process, we would like to reiterate our steadfast position that the Syrian crisis must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the principles of international law, particularly the full respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity of States. To achieve this goal, the occupation must end, and Syria's full sovereignty must be restored.
We emphasize the Constitutional Committee's crucial role in the political resolution of the Syrian crisis, and we commend and support the UN Special Envoy's efforts to interact with the Syrian parties to facilitate the work of the Committee's ninth session.
In this regard, we highlight the tripartite summit within the framework of the Astana format held in Tehran on 19 July 2022, where the Presidents of the Astana format guarantors emphasized their unwavering commitments to the Syrian Arab Republic's sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity and the advancement of a sustainable political process led and owned by the Syrian people in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. They also emphasized the Constitutional Committee's critical role and reaffirmed their willingness to support ongoing interactions between its members and the Special Envoy for Syria as a facilitator to ensure long-term stability and effective work of the next sessions of the Committee.
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Mr. President,
The Israeli regime continues to violate Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as carry out terrorist attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure within Syrian territory. According to the UN report, the Damascus international airport was forced to close due to the damage caused by the Israeli terrorist attack on 10 June. All flights for the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service, which is run by the World Food Program and is the primary enabler of access for humanitarian operations in the country, have been canceled due to this criminal act.
We strongly condemn the continuing Israeli military attacks in Syria, including on civilian infrastructures, and recognize Syria's legitimate right to self-defense under international law and the United Nations Charter.
Continuing such criminal acts will destabilize and exacerbate tensions in the region.
The Security Council must abandon its double standard and unequivocally condemn Israel's aggression and terrorist attacks on Syria's territory, which are being pursued in flagrant violations of the UN Charter and international law, particularly the principle of a sovereign state's territorial integrity and independence.
And finally, Mr. President, my delegation categorically rejects the unfounded accusations made by the representative of the United States against my country at this meeting.
Indeed, the United States' presence in the northeast of Syria under the pretext of combating terrorism is a clear violation of the UN Charter, international law, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria.
It is the United States that is working with the terrorist groups in Syria and destabilizing the peace and security in the region,
The United States must seize its violation of international law and the UN charter by ending its continuing support of terrorist groups and occupation of the northeast part of Syria.
The Security Council should live up to its charter mandate and demand the US honor its international obligations.
Iran, as a responsible State and in line with its international obligations, continues its efforts to assist the Syrian government in combating terrorism.
I thank you, Mr. President.
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