Draft Ukraine resolution will not advance lasting peace, say UN envoy
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in New York said Tehran voted against a Western-backed resolution on the Ukraine crisis, arguing that the draft would not advance lasting peace and could instead deepen existing divisions.
Speaking at the 23rd plenary meeting of the Eleventh Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Ali Bahreini said the resolution was introduced at an inappropriate time and without transparent prior consultations.
He added that achieving a durable and long-term solution to the conflict requires addressing its root causes, including the provocative actions and decisions by certain states and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He expressed regret that the resolution failed to tackle those fundamental issues.
Bahreini also questioned the underlying objectives of the draft, saying there were concerns that its purpose was not to promote lasting peace in Ukraine but rather to serve political interests amid ongoing geopolitical rivalries.
He stressed that since the outset of the Ukraine crisis, Iran has maintained a clear, consistent and unchanged position, emphasizing the need for all UN member states to fully respect the principles enshrined in the UN Charter and international law. The Iranian envoy also firmly rejected what he described as baseless allegations regarding Tehran’s support for one of the parties to the conflict, saying such accusations have been repeatedly denied and remain categorically rejected. Both Kiev and European countries have repeatedly accused Iran of supplying arms, including drones and missiles to Russia, a claim that Iranian authorities have firmly rejected. The resolution, backed by Western countries, was adopted with 107 votes in favor, 12 against and 51 abstentions on Tuesday.