IRINN: Editorial on Iran's Relationship with UN

Broadcast 29 September on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

The president of Iran attended the UN General Assembly for the third year in a row. Dr. Ahmadinejad discussed the Islamic Republic of Iran's positions concerning international and regional changes. Our nation's believe that despite the utilitarian use by the great powers of international institutions, international organizations such as the UN can at the same time serve the interests of nations. How does the Islamic Republic of Iran really view the United Nations?

Iran is one of the signatories of the UN Charter and is considered one of the founders of the UN. Before the revolution, because Iran was part of the Wester bloc the shah always supported America's positions in the UN. However, the victory of the Islamic revolution put the Islamic Republic of Iran's foreign policy on a path of independence from the superpowers.

The Islamic Republic's policy of neither east nor west was manifested well in its UN activities. During these years the Islamic Republic of Iran rose in opposition to the domineering behavior of the United States and it also opposed that the Soviet Union's domineering policies during its lifetime. The great powers used the implement of the United Nations to disregard the rightful interests of the nation of Iran, especially throughout the eight-year imposed war.

What have Iran's relations with the UN been like in the period since the victory of the Islamic revolution?

Political Affairs Expert Mahmudian: The issue of the Islamic Revolution, which was unique. It came to victory with the slogan neither east nor west, and this victory was not supported by either them because they believed that any nation that could stand on its own could be a model for other nations. Therefore from the very beginning each of these nations opposed the Islamic revolution. Ultimately they imposed an eight-year war on Iran. Along with this imposed war these nations, especially America, issued resolutions and put pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran so they still impose their will with terror. They were saying that a cease-fire meant the invading and occupying nation would sit at the negotiating table. The resolution therefore had no effect. Right there we, Iran's valiant combatants using our religious values, stood against the demands of the imperialists and their unrealistic and imposed resolution.

Announcer: The nation of Iran expected the UN and its subsidiary organizations to act solely within the framework of their duties without accepting the domination of the great powers. Unfortunately with regard to the Islamic Republic of Iran's peaceful nuclear case the Western powers are trying to misuse the Security Council to put pressure on Iran. For this reason two resolutions have been approved so far against the Islamic Republic of Iran under pressure from the West.

Mahmudian: The resolutions approved so far against Iran's nuclear energy by the UN with American pressure have had nothing to do with the UN from the very beginning, because the international community has provided that overseeing nations acquiring peaceful nuclear energy is one of the responsibilities of the IAEA, and here the members of the IAEA Board of Governors include those very nations that have the right of veto in the UN; in view of this fact they have taken the work out of the expert realm that belongs to the IAEA and have unfortunately taken it to the UN so that with American pressure they could issue resolutions that impose America's will on Iran, hoping Iran would give up its indisputable right to acquire nuclear energy. However we saw that the empathy and unity of voice among nations is undermining the resolutions.

Announcer: The UN is now facing a difficult test. If this organization wants to continue meeting the interests of the powerful, it will lose its acceptability among nations.