Iran, 2014

At the

outset, Mr. President, I would like to extend my sincere

congratulations on your well-deserved election as

the President of the General Assembly at its sixty-

ninth session. I also express my appreciation to His

Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon for all his efforts. It is

my genuine hope that this year’s session of the General

Assembly brings the world, in its current critical

situation, a step closer to security and tranquility for

human beings, which is of course a fundamental goal

of the United Nations.

I am from a region of the world whose many parts

are currently burning in the fire of extremism and

radicalism. To the east and to the west of my country,

extremists threaten our neighbours, resort to violence

and shed blood. They do not speak a single language;

they are not of a single skin colour and not of a single

nationality — they have come to the Middle East from

around the world. They do, however, have a single

ideology: violence and extremism. They also have a

single goal: the destruction of civilization, thus giving

rise to Islamophobia and creating a fertile ground for

further intervention of foreign forces in our region.

I deeply regret to say that terrorism has become

globalized from New York to Mosul, from Damascus

to Baghdad, from the easternmost to the westernmost

parts of the world, and from Al-Qaida to Daesh. The

extremists of the world have found each other and have

put out the call: “Extremists of the world, unite”. But

are we united against the extremists?

Extremism is not a regional issue with which only

the nations of our region have to grapple. Extremism

is a global issue. Certain States have helped to create

it and now fail to withstand it. Our peoples are

currently paying the price. Today’s anti-Westernism

is the offspring of yesterday’s colonialism. Today’s

anti-Westernism is a reaction to yesterday’s racism.

Certain intelligence agencies have put blades in the

hand of madmen, who now spare no one. All those that

have played a role in founding and supporting those

terror groups must acknowledge their errors that have

led to extremism. They need to apologize not only to

the past generations but also to the next.

To fight the underlying causes of terrorism, one

must identify its roots and dry up its sources. Terrorism

germinates in poverty, unemployment, discrimination,

humiliation and injustice, and it grows in the culture of

violence. To uproot extremism, we must spread justice

and development and not allow the distortion of divine

teachings to justify brutality and cruelty. The pain is

exacerbated when such terrorists spill blood in the

name of religion and behead in the name of Islam. They

seek to keep hidden the incontrovertible truth of history

that, on the basis of the teachings of all divine prophets,

from Abraham to Moses, from Jesus to Muhammad,

taking the life of a human being is akin to killing all

humankind.

I am astonished that those murderous groups call

themselves Islamic. What is more astonishing is that

the Western media, in line with them, repeat that

false claim, which provokes the hatred of all Muslims.

Muslim people, who daily recall their God as merciful

and compassionate and have learned the lessons of

kindness and empathy from their Prophet’s teachings,

see such defamation as part of an Islamophobic scheme.

The strategic blunders of the West in the Middle

East, Central Asia and the Caucuses have turned

those parts of the world into a haven for terrorists

and extremists. The military aggression against

Afghanistan and Iraq and inappropriate interference

in the developments in Syria are clear examples of

that erroneous strategic approach in the Middle East.

As part of a non-peaceful approach, aggression and

occupation target the lives and livelihoods of ordinary

people. They result in various adverse psychological

and behavioral consequences that are today manifested

in the form of violence and murder in the Middle East

and North Africa, even attracting some citizens from

other parts of the world.

Today, violence is being spread to other parts of

the world like a contagious disease. We have always

believed that democracy cannot be transplanted from

abroad. Democracy is the product of growth and

development, not war and aggression. Democracy is not

an export product that can be commercially imported

from the West to the East. In an underdeveloped

society, imported democracy leads only to a weak and

vulnerable Government.

When commanding generals set foot in a region,

do not expect diplomats to greet them warmly. When

war begins, diplomacy tends to end. When sanctions

set in, deep hatred for those imposing them also begins.

When the atmosphere of the Middle East becomes

securitized, there will be a similar response. The

interests of Western countries in our region are tied to

their recognition of beliefs and the desire of the people

for democratic governance in the region.

The establishment of Al-Qaida, the Taliban and

modern extremist groups has demonstrated that one

cannot use extremist groups to counter an opposing

State and remain impervious to the consequences of

rising extremism. The repetition of such mistakes,

despite the many costly experiences, is perplexing. Let

us recall that Iran had invited everyone to dialogue

before the criminal act of 11 September. We also called

for a world against violence and extremism before the

outbreak of the current violent atrocities.

In the past year, perhaps few people could have

forecast the fire that rages today, but now uninhibited

violence and extremism present an imminent threat to

the world. It is self-evident that without an accurate

understanding of the causes of the current situation,

we will not be able to find the right solutions. Today,

I shall again warn against the spread of extremism and

the danger posed by the inadequate understanding of

and incorrect approach to that phenomenon.

The Middle East longs for development and is

weary of war. It is the natural right of the peoples of

the fertile lands of the Middle East to live in peace and

prosperity. In the past, colonialism denied them that

right. Today, the shadow of war and violence threatens

their security.

There are moderate politicians and elites in our

region who enjoy the confidence of their peoples. They

are neither anti- nor pro-Western. Aware of the role of

colonialism in the backwardness of their nations, they

do not neglect the role of their nations in reaching the

development that they seek. They do not absolve the

West of its misdeeds, but they are also aware of their

own failings. Those leaders can assume positions of

active leadership by attracting the confidence of the

people in their societies and can establish the strongest

national and international coalitions against violence.

The voices of such leaders are the true voices of

moderation in the Islamic world. They represent the

familiar voice of an Afghan weary of war, of an Iraqi

victim of extremism, of a Syrian fearful of terrorism and

of a Lebanese worried about violence and sectarianism.

I believe that if countries that claim to lead the coalition

do so to continue their hegemony in the region, they

are making a strategic mistake. Obviously, since the

pain is better known by the countries of the region,

those countries can better form a coalition and agree to

shoulder the responsibility of leadership in countering

violence and terrorism. If other nations wish to take

action against terrorism, they must come to their support.

I warn that if we do not muster all our strengths against

extremism and violence, and if we fail to entrust the

task to those in the region who can succeed, tomorrow

the world will not be safe for anyone.

Last year I tried to fulfil my country’s role in

the realization of peace at both the regional and

international levels by putting forward a proposal about

a world against violence and extremism, which met with

general support. In the tumultuous and chaotic region

of the Middle East, Iran is one of the most tranquil,

secure and stable nations. All the nations of the region

have to keep in mind that we are in the same boat.

Thus, we need broad cooperation with regard to social

and political issues, as well as security and defence

issues, with a view to reaching common and durable

understandings. Had we had greater cooperation and

coordination in the Middle East, thousands of innocent

Palestinians in Gaza would not have fallen victim to the

aggressions of the Zionist regime.

We in the Islamic Republic of Iran consider

interaction and confidence-building among the States

of the region as fundamentally essential for conflict

resolution. We support any measure to promote

cooperation among Islamic nations to combat extremism

and threats and aggression, and in that connection we

are prepared to play our permanent constructive and

positive role.

The oppressive sanctions against Iran go on, in

continuation of a strategic mistake against a moderate

and independent nation in the current sensitive

conditions in our region. During the past year, we have

engaged in the most transparent possible dialogue to

build confidence regarding Iran’s peaceful nuclear

programme. We placed serious and honest negotiations

on the agenda, not as a result of sanctions or threats but

rather because of the will of our people. We are of the

view that the nuclear issue can be resolved only through

negotiation, and those who may think of other solutions

would be commiting a grave mistake. Any delay in

reaching final agreement only raises the costs — not

only for us but also for the economies and trade of

the other parties, as well as for the development and

security prospects of our region. No one should doubt

that compromise and agreement on that issue are in

everyone’s best interest, especially that of the nations

of the region.

The nuclear negotiations between Iran and the 5+1

Group have continued during the past year and the past

few months, with seriousness and optimism on both

sides. According to all international observers, the

Islamic Republic of Iran has carried out its commitments

in good faith. Although some of the observations and

actions of our counterparts have created certain doubts

regarding their determination and realism, we hope that

the current negotiations will lead to a final accord in

the short time that remains.

We are committed to continuing our peaceful

nuclear programme, including enrichment, and to

enjoy our full nuclear rights on Iranian soil within the

framework of international law. We are determined to

continue negotiations with our interlocutors in earnest

good faith and on an equal footing, based on mutual

respect and confidence and on recognized international

norms and principles, removing concerns of both

sides. I believe that mutual adherence to the strict

implementation of commitments and obligations and

avoidance of excessive demands in the negotiations by

our counterparts are the prerequisites for the success

of the negotiations. A final accord regarding Iran’s

peaceful nuclear programme can serve as the beginning

of multilateral collaboration aimed at promoting

security, peace and development in our region and

beyond.

The people of Iran, who have been subjected to

pressures especially during the past three years as a

result of continued sanctions, cannot trust any security

cooperation between their Government and those

who have imposed sanctions and created obstacles to

their ability to satisfy even their primary needs, such

as food and medicine. Sanctions only create further

impediments to long-term cooperation in the future.

The people of Iran are devoted to certain principles

and values, at the apex of which are independence,

development and national pride. If that obvious fact

about the nation is not understood by our negotiating

partners and they commit grievous miscalculations in

the process, a historic and exceptional opportunity will

be lost.

As the Assembly knows, during the ongoing nuclear

negotiations this year, the Iranian Government took

some initiatives that created favourable conditions,

which resulted in the new phase, the Geneva Joint

Plan of Action. We are determined to continue our

confidence-building approach and transparency in

that process. If our interlocutors are equally motivated

and flexible, and if we can overcome the problems

and reach long-standing agreement within the time

remaining, then an entirely different environment will

emerge for cooperation at the regional and international

levels. That would allow for greater focus on some very

important regional issues such as combating violence

and extremism in the region.

Arriving at a final, comprehensive nuclear

agreement with Iran will be an historic opportunity for

the West to show that it does not oppose the advancement

and development of others and does not discriminate

when it comes to adhering to international rules and

regulations. Such an agreement could bear a global

message of peace and security, indicating that the only

way to attain conflict resolution is through negotiation

and respect, not through conflict and sanctions.

Last year, the great nation of Iran broadly

participated in the calm and impressive presidential

election and endorsed the discourse of foresight, hope

and prudent moderation. Thereafter, they support their

elected Government in its effort in building the country.

While some of Iran’s neighbours have fallen prey to

war and turmoil, Iran remains secure, stable and calm.

My Government’s principled policy is to work

towards constructive interactions with our neighbors

on the basis of mutual respect and with emphasis on

common interests. The notion that Iran seeks to control

other Muslim countries in the region is a myth fanned

in recent years in the context of an Iranophobic project.

Those who make such claims need imaginary enemies

to sustain tensions and sow division and conflict,

thereby pushing for the redeployment of national

resources away from development. We work to put an

end to delusional Iranophobia, setting the stage for

building strategic partnerships with our neighbours.

Last year I warned against the expansion of violence

and extremism. This year too I warn that if the right

approach is not taken in dealing with the issue at hand,

we will get closer to having a turbulent and tumultuous

region with repercussions for the whole world. The

right solution to that quandary comes from within

the region, not from outside, and must be a regionally

provided solution with international support.

In the Holy Koran, God the Almighty has promised

those who have believed and done righteous deeds that

He will surely grant them succession to authority upon

the Earth and that their fears will turn into peace and

security. It is my sincerest hope that our generation will

endeavour to leave a more secure and developed Earth

as its legacy for the next generation. I wish all present

much success and many blessings.