Iran: US abusing UNSC to divert attention from israeli violations of intl. law

Iran has censured US President Donald Trump’s latest decision to chair a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting against the Islamic Republic, saying such a meeting is meant to divert the world’s attention from American and Israeli violations of international law and the very same Council’s resolutions.

In a press release published on Wednesday, the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the UN accused the US of trying to impose its unilateral decisions on the UNSC during its presidency of the chamber this month.

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley announced on Tuesday that the UNSC session, scheduled for September 26, will address “violations of international law and general instability Iran sows throughout the entire Middle East region.”

She also noted that Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani could speak at the council meeting if he chooses to.

In response, the Iranian mission said Washington is seeking to misuse the UNSC’s decades-long agenda item entitled “the Middle East” and render the world body ineffective in bringing an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestine.

“While the occupation of Palestine is the main cause of all conflicts in the Middle East, the US continues to be the main supporter of the occupying regime of Israel and its illegitimate expansionist policies and oppressive practices in blatantly violating the rules of international law and the basic principles of humanity,” it said.

“Now, a meeting of the Council to be held on 26 September 2018 is yet a further attempt by the US to divert attention away from Israeli brutalities and to remove the issue from the Council agenda; however, such actions are doomed to fail,” the statement added.

The Iranian mission also warned that Trump’s “irresponsible” decision would further “undermine the Council’s credibility” and “erode the trust and confidence” in the world body.

“In the absence of a consensually adopted program of work, the US abuses its positions both as a permanent seat-holder of the Council, and as its president, to impose this unilateral decision on this organ. This undoubtedly is a clear act of resorting to coercion, intimidation and bullying in international relations,” it added.

Although Tehran is complying with all its obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal, called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Washington “not only unilaterally and unlawfully withdrew from the accord, but also now openly invites all UN member states to either violate or ignore resolution 2231 or face punishment,” the mission pointed out.

It further described the US as “a menace to Middle Eastern security” given its destabilizing role in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen.

 Zarif blasts Trump for seeking to hijack UNSC session

Zarif says Trump is going to use a US-chaired UNSC session devoted to Palestine to continue spreading false claims against Iran.

Earlier on Wednesday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif slammed Trump’s “chutzpah” for calling a Security Council meeting to discuss Iran.

In recent months, the US president has stepped up his hostile rhetoric against Iran.

He pulled his country out of the JCPOA in May despite objections from the other signatories and three months later re-imposed the anti-Iran sanctions which were lifted under the nuclear agreement.

Iran has lodged a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over Washington’s move to re-impose the sanctions.