The United States-led resolution that removed the Islamic Republic of Iran's membership in the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the UN lacks legitimacy, according to the foreign ministry of Iran, which also argued that the decision is politically motivated and in violation of the UN charter.

After the 54-member UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) approved the US-drafted resolution to exclude the Islamic Republic from the UN commission for the remaining two years of its 2022–2026 term, Tehran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani remarked on Wednesday, that the "US-led non-consensus resolution," violated the UN charter and set a dangerous precedent. However, it was approved with 29 votes in favor, eight votes against, and 16 abstentions.

Kanaani reiterated that Washington's "malicious" campaign against the Islamic Republic was an effort to "impose its unilateral political demands" on the international community, adding that this is a blatant disregard for the official electoral procedures at international organizations. 

He explained that during the previous ten years, the commission had voted three times in support of Iran's participation in the UN body.

He also referred to the US as "the great violator of the Iranian nation and women's rights" and cited Washington's protracted and widespread efforts to destabilize Iran.

The spokesperson said, "Removing a legal member of the CSW is political heresy, rids the international organization of its credibility, and sets a precedent unilaterally for future exploitations of the body."

"Israel" remains on the committee

Moreover, Kanaani noted that "it is ridiculous that the fake Israeli regime is counted as a member of the Commission on the Status of Women despite its dark record of organized crimes committed against the oppressed Palestinian people with the support of the US and its lackeys."

The official also mentioned the US' persistent and broad efforts to undermine Iran as well as its complicity in flagrant human rights abuses against the Iranian people.

Kanaani asked, “How has a country which is itself a big violator of the rights of the Iranian nation and community of women and has spared no hostile action against the Iranian nation’s rights and interests since the Islamic Revolution now becomes a flag-bearer in supporting the rights of Iranian women?” 

The spokesperson then went on to clarify that “Undoubtedly, America cannot cover up its widespread violations of the rights of the Iranian nation, in general, and the Iranian women, in particular, with the imposition of unilateral sanctions through a smear campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Lastly, Kanaani extend his sincere gratitude to the nations that abstained from the resolution and did not vote "yes." 

Read more: Under US pressure campaign, Iran removed from UN women's body