Iran calls UNSG to stop Saudi spread of Takfiri ideology

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran at UN headquarters in New York Gholamali Khoshroo sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council recounting the details of Wednesday terrorist attack on Tehran. The Iranian diplomat called the international community to unify against terrorism, extremism, and Takfirism.

He warned the world about the threat of Saudi wrong policies which according to him has put the region in the track of self-destruction.

Here comes the full text of his letter:

In the name of God, the most Compassionate, the most Merciful

Excellency,

Upon instructions from my Government, I have the honor to bring the following to your attention:

1- On 7 June 2017, two gangs of Daesh terrorists, equipped with assault rifles, grenades and suicide vests, attacked the Iranian Parliament and the Mausoleum of the late Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in Tehran, shooting around indiscriminately and detonating their explosive-strapped vests. As a result, 17 innocent human lives perished and more than 50 others were wounded.

2- These heinous terrorist attacks, similar to those which have already happened in many others cities around the world, occurred at a time when our region continues to go through turbulences and destabilizations, which is the outcome of years of efforts made at exporting radical Takfiri ideology and bankrolling such extremist groups as Daesh, Al-Qaeda and the like who embrace it.

3- As the proponents of the Takfiri ideology first and foremost despise democracy and election, it is quite expressive and significant that the Parliament was one of the targets of the terrorist attacks, occurring two weeks after vibrant and hard-fought presidential and local elections in Iran, in which 71 percent of the Iranian people took part.

4- It was very unfortunate that those who have always been at the origin of this radical ideology recently received encouragement and a green light, cemented by the conclusion of a historically unprecedented arms deal. It is not a coincidence that thereafter, the situation in our region is deteriorating, progressing from bad to worse; i.e. gaps among countries widening, terrorist activities multiplying and domestic suppressions intensifying.

5- The terrorist attacks in Tehran took place on the heel of the rejection on 2 May 2017 of any dialogue with Iran by the Saudi Defense Minister and his utter threat, emphasizing that “we will work so that the battle is on their side, inside Iran”. It is not surprising either that the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs had threatened Iran few hours before the attacks, saying that “Iran must be punished.”

6- In my previous letter dated 4 May 2017 (S/2017/393) I had warned against the irresponsible, provocative and ill-fated policies of Saudi Arabia in promoting and financing extremist groups and its short-sighted and self-defeating adventurism in the region, in clear violation of the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.

7- Following the terrorist attacks of 7 June 2017 in Tehran, I would like to ask the international community, especially the Security Council, to seriously ponder over such a dangerous approach towards regional security and its grave consequences, and to spare no efforts in combating violent extremism.

I would be grateful if you could have this letter circulated as a document of the Security Council.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Gholamali Khoshroo

Ambassador

Permanent Representative