Iran protests to US secretary of state’s interventionist remarks in Congress

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Iran to the United Nations Gholamali Khoshroo said that Tillerson’s remarks about working towards “a peaceful transition of government” in Iran is clearly an “interventionist plan” that is against norms and principles of the international law.

The full text of Khoshroo’s letter to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres follows:

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. Mr. Rex Tillerson, the Secretary of State of the United States, during his address before the House Foreign Relations Committee on 14 June 2017 stated 'the US policy towards Iran is ... to work towards support of those elements inside of Iran that would lead to a peaceful transition of that government. Those elements are there, certainly as we know.'

2. This statement is a brazen interventionist plan that runs counter to every norm and principle of international law, as well as the letter and spirit of UN Charter, and constitutes an unacceptable behavior in international relations.

3. This statement is also a flagrant violation of the 1981 Algiers Accords and other treaty obligations to which the United States is a party. According to the Algiers Accords, 'the United States pledges that it is and from now on will be the policy of the United States not to intervene, directly or indirectly, politically or militarily, in Irans internal affairs'.

4. Interestingly, Mr. Tillersons statement coincides with the release of newly declassified documents that further clarify how the US agencies were behind the overthrow of Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh, the popular and democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran, on 19 August 1953. That CIA-backed coup abruptly interrupted the path of Iran towards independence, democracy and development and imposed and upheld a 25-year long dictatorship that left deep scars on the Iranian society and its collective conscience.

5. It also came weeks after vibrant presidential and local elections in Iran in which more than 71 percent of the Iranian people participated. The people of Iran have repeatedly proven that they are the ones to decide their own destiny and thus US attempts to interfere in Iran domestic affairs will be doomed to failure. They have learned how to stand strong and independent, as demonstrated in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

6. The Iranian government expects that all States condemn such grotesque policy statements and advise the US government to act responsibly and to adhere to principles of the UN Charter and international law.

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

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

END