Iran’s UN Envoy Slams Baseless Claims On Three PG Islands

New York, April 24, IRNA – Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations Eshaq Al-e Habib slammed baseless claims regarding the three Persian Gulf islands belonging to Iran. Addressing the United Nations Security Council session Monday evening which focused on countless cases of human rights violations in the occupied Palestine, he outlined Iran’s views on the most important regional issues. He said the recent visit of the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Abu Mussa Island in the Persian Gulf took place based on Iran’s sovereignty over the island and the principle of Iran’s territorial integrity. Criticizing certain irresponsible remarks regarding the trip, he said the three islands of Abu Mussa, the Lesser and Greater Tunbs have always been integral parts of the Iranian territory, stressing that Iran vehemently confronted any claims over the islands. Commenting on the expansionist and illegal actions of the Zionist regime in the Middle East, he said such provoking acts will only create more instability and tension in the region. Turning to the grave concerns and the growing disappointment caused by the prevailing situation in the Middle East especially in Palestine, the Iranian official expressed regret that the unlawful and aggressive measures taken by the Zionist regime against people and holy places in the occupied lands still persisted. He called on the Security Council to take practical measures to stop the Zionist regime from committing more crimes in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. He said the Tel Aviv regime should stand accountable to its illegal actions like war crimes, state terrorism and organized violation of human rights, stressing that perpetrators should be brought to justice. As for situation in Syria, Al-e Habib said Iran strongly believed that the present conditions in Syria could be settled only through a peaceful procedure which entails internal political dialogue led by Syrians themselves. Pointing to the recent visit to Tehran of the UN Special Envoy for Syrian Affairs Kofi Annan, he said that Iranian officials informed Annan of their strong support for his mission while expressing their concern over any kind of violation of Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity which would have grave regional consequences. Reacting to the Zionist regime's baseless claims against Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities, he stressed that possessing and developing hundreds of nuclear warheads by the Zionist regime is a real threat to the region as well as the international peace and stability. He further denounced the Zionist regime’s refusal to answer to the demands of a vast majority of the UNSC member states to stop production of nuclear arms and join the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The Iranian envoy reiterated that the passivity of the UN organizations towards the issue has only emboldened the dangerous Zionist regime in pursuing its policies./end