Iran Envoy Criticizes UNSC Silence Over Assassination Of Scientists

New York, Jan 21, IRNA – Iran’s Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Eshaq Al Habib condemned the silence of the United Nations Security Council over the killing of the Iranian nuclear scientists. Addressing the United Nations Security Council, he said that the root causes behind many conflicts are poverty, exclusion and marginalization, foreign interventions and military excursions and occupation. “Unfortunately, the council in addressing the maintenance of international peace and security has in many instances failed to take into account these causes. The sobering reality is the influence exercised by some members of the Security Council that have made the decisions of the council, if not exacerbating the conflicts, contributing to their prolongation, with severe impacts on peace and stability which also hindered the way for the promotion of sustainable development and economic prosperity.” Saying that the “first example relates to the sad series of terrorist incidents targeting Iranian nuclear scientists, the last one of which happened (on Jan 11) in Tehran. In this incident another prominent Iranian scientist, Mostafa Ahamdi Roshan, Deputy of Iran's Natanz nuclear facility, fell victim of a blind terrorist attack”, he noted that “after each of these terrorist attacks, on behalf of my government, our mission immediately sent letters to the presidents of the council and through them we informed the distinguished members of the Security Council about those attacks and the secretariat distributed them as documents of this council.” The Iranian envoy stressed that “through those letters we brought to the attention of the council that based on some evidences, those operations were masterminded by foreign intelligence services, which we have already explained in those letters. The officials and politicians of the Israeli regime do not deny the fact that such terrorist acts have been carried out as part of the efforts to disrupt Iran’s peaceful nuclear program. These circles have spared no efforts in depriving the Islamic Republic of Iran from its inalienable right to peaceful nuclear energy and called for conducting covert operations ranging from assassinating Iranian nuclear scientists to launching a military strike on Iran, as well as sabotaging Iran's nuclear program.” Referring to “the Israeli officials who have recently stepped up their war rhetoric against Iran, along the same line rhetoric are used by some politicians in the US”, he added, “the United Nations bodies including this council suffers from several deficiencies such as failure to keep the secrecy over the inspections of nuclear facilities which is required by the established laws, regulations and practices. On this case however, there is a high suspicion that these terrorist circles used the intelligence obtained from United Nations bodies, including the sanction lists of the Security Council and interviews carried out by IAEA with our nuclear scientists to identify and carry out their malicious acts. The late Ahmadi Roshan had recently met with IAEA inspectors, a fact that indicates that this UN Agency may have played a role in leaking information on Iran's nuclear facilities and scientists. “while the council promptly reacts to terrorist incidents that happen around the world, it is odd to see that the council kept silence on the terrorist attacks that targeted Iranian scientists,” Al Habib added. “Now, the question remains whether resorting to all unlawful and coercive measures, even terrorist acts, to prevent developing nations from exercising their right to development, including peaceful use of nuclear energy are permissible and within the internationally recognized rules of law?,” he added. The envoy further stressed that “it goes without saying that imposition of unilateral economic sanctions and organizing terrorist attacks against scientists and experts, particularly in the fields of peaceful nuclear technology, pose a serious threat to the peace and security as well as to sustainable development in developing countries.” Al Habib reiterated that “it is the least expectation from this august body to denounce such actions and take necessary steps to prevent the recurrences of such actions.” He concluded by hoping that “the international community would take all the measures necessary for the rule of law, fairness and justice and on the basis of respect for the lives of innocent scientists. Justice demands that the perpetrators of those crimes be prosecuted and brought to justice. This is extremely important for the credibility of the Security Council. If we want our debate on the rule of law be meaningful and effective, we should have a fair, balanced and a comprehensive approach based on full respect for international law.”/end