Bishkek: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday criticized the UN and its Security Council over their response to Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon, saying the international body had failed to effectively address major threats to the international order.
According to Anadolu Agency, Pezeshkian addressed the 'SCO Plus' meeting held as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of State summit in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek. He expressed his concern over the world's current challenges, citing military aggression, genocide, war crimes, terrorism, and what he termed illegal sanctions.
'The performance of the United Nations and the UN Security Council in dealing with these developments, including in Gaza, Lebanon, and the recent aggression against Iran, has been very disappointing,' Pezeshkian stated. He accused the US and Israel of violating the UN Charter and international law, pointing to attacks on civilians, educational and medical facilities, critical infrastructure, and nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.
Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran did not initiate the war but acted in self-defense, while underlining Tehran's commitment to diplomacy and negotiations as the primary means for resolving disputes. 'Diplomacy without good faith, without respect for commitments, and without refraining from the use of force cannot create lasting peace,' he declared.
He further accused Washington of repeatedly violating commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the US, cautioning that pressure and threats could derail diplomacy even after a political framework for ending hostilities and beginning negotiations had been reached. The memorandum, finalized in June after nearly three months of negotiations mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, followed 40 days of conflict involving Iran, the US, and Israel. It provided a framework for ending hostilities and resuming negotiations, including provisions concerning the Strait of Hormuz.
Discussing the international system, Pezeshkian argued that the rise of a multipolar world should not simply replace one dominant power with another. He advocated for a more representative and effective UN and Security Council, suggesting that a fair multipolar order should be founded on effective multilateralism, sovereign equality, and respect for international law.
Pezeshkian highlighted the potential role of SCO Plus countries, given their considerable political, economic, demographic, and geographical influence, in shaping such an international order. The SCO, founded in 2001, now includes 10 members, with Iran becoming a full member in 2023. The SCO Plus format facilitates broader dialogue on regional and global issues by bringing together the organization's members with invited countries and international organizations.