US unilateral actions threatening multilateralism: Iran UN envoy

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
25 Apr 2023 00:03
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Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations says examples of US unilateral actions include its re-imposition of sanctions against Iran.

Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir Saied Iravani (IRNA)

Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir Saied Iravani, warned on Monday that unilateral actions by the United States threaten multilateralism in the world, adding that the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal is a clear example of those actions.

During a UN Security Council meeting that discussed multilateralism, international peace, and security, Iravani pointed out that other examples of US unilateral actions include its re-imposition of sanctions against Iran, as well as its coercion of other countries to engage in the anti-Iran measures.

The Iranian diplomat indicated that "multilateralism has been recognized as a well-established approach to addressing global challenges and effective multilateralism, operating within the framework of the UN Charter, is essential for ensuring international peace and security."

He added that unilateral coercive measures, "including their extraterritorial application, represent a concerning example of harmful unilateral acts that run counter to the fundamental principles of international law, the UN Charter, and basic human rights."

"These illegal measures have far-reaching humanitarian consequences and can undermine diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving disputes and promoting cooperation," Iravani noted.

According to Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, the US unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, "re-imposition of illegal unilateral sanctions against Iran, its coercion of other countries to engage in these illegal actions, and defiance of the International Court of Justice's order are striking examples of how such harmful unilateral acts violate the UN Charter, undermine the UN system, and threaten multilateralism."

Iravani recalled that in its recent judgment on March 30, 2023, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared that the United States has violated its international obligations toward the Iranian people by imposing unilateral sanctions that are deemed illegal under international law.