Iran UN envoy lashes out at US unilateral sanctions on Cuba

New York, Oct 31, IRNA – Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Gholamali Khoshroo on Wednesday slammed US unilateral sanctions against Cuba, saying that embargoes are a vivid example of the unilateral way in which the United States acts in the world.

Addressing a meeting themed “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba”, he added that the strengthening of the extraterritorial application of the blockade had profound adverse effect on Cuba’s international financial and loan relations.

Full text of his statements is as follows: 

“At the outset, I would like to express my gratitude for the recent report compiled by Secretary-General, demonstrating states and international organization’s strong stance on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.

Warmly welcoming His Excellency Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez, the Foreign Minister of Cuba and his delegation, I wish to seize this opportunity to reaffirm Iran’s full support for the people and Government of Cuba against this long lasting unilaterally imposed an unlawful and immoral embargo.

My delegation aligns itself with the statements made earlier by the representatives of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries (NAM); the Group of 77 and China; and the States members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). However, allow me to add the following remarks in my national capacity.

Mr. President,

Undoubtedly, the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba is the most unjust and longest-lasting unilateral sanctions imposed against a country in our modern world history. The blockade is a vivid example of the unilateral way in which the United States acts in the world. In fact, the way and one-track mindset of some of high ranking officials of the later State, increasingly keep them away from existing realities of today’s multilateral world. US long obstinacy and pathological tendencies on imposing unilateral sanctions, in particular, during recent administration, which pursue the Cold War obsolete policies, has inflicted enormous damage on all sectors of the Cuban economy and caused untold hardship for the Cuban people, preventing them from fully enjoying their human rights.

The strengthening of the extraterritorial application of the blockade and the intensification of this policy, had profound adverse effect on Cuba’s international financial and loan relations.

During 2018, dozens of banks all over the world decided to shut down their relations with Cuban or foreign companies in order to eliminate any ties with their activities with Cubans merely for the their nationality.
The blockade also constitutes a massive, flagrant and systematic violation of the human rights of all the Cuban people. It violates the United Nations Charter and international law and constitutes an obstacle for international cooperation.

Regretfully, in the 21st century, US officials still use and resort to inflammatory and hostile rhetoric in the spirit of the Cold War. Instead of learning lessons from their short-sighted and disastrous policy on Cuba as well as in our region, Middle East, they set a course of action and renewed the intensification of the blockade against the Island to increase political pressure on the Cuban leadership under far-fetched pretexts.

Mr. President,

The Islamic Republic of Iran, which has been more than 37 years subject to US unilateral coercive measures, including unprecedented economic and financial sanctions, fully shares the valid concern of the Government and people of Cuba, suffering from the recklessness and disregard of US for international values and institutions. Enjoying close companionship with Cuban people, the Iranian people have demonstrated their unwavering resilience during the past 37 years despite the difficulties and constraints caused by sanctions.

In this context, I deem it necessary to point out how US is addicted to imposition of sanction as an instrument to achieve its bilateral goals. The conclusion of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2015 between Iran and the P5 + 1, which has been endorsed by Security Council resolution 2231, adopted under Chapter Seven of the UN Charter is a good example of the fact that the US is perfidious player in the international scene. The Security Council resolution 2231 was supposed to put an end to the imposed sanctions to Iran. It is so tragic that the US, a Permanent Member of the Security Council and one of the principal negotiator and parties to the agreement and drafting SC resolution, now punishing and threatening sovereign states, not because of violating, but for being abided by a Security Council Resolution.

The economic war that the United States has initiated under the rubric of new sanctions not only targets the Iranian people but also entails harmful repercussions for the people of other countries, and that war has caused a disruption in the state of global trade. 

The re-imposition of sanctions against Iran after the unilateral withdrawal indicated that US is not trustworthy at all and is a colossal mistake to count on its commitments. 

Mr. President,

The message of today’s meeting is the reaffirmation of the fact that the time of interventionist policy and interference in farthest reaches of the world has elapsed. The era of coups d’état, invasions and destabilization, the policy of walls, sanctions and aggression that threatens the peace and security of the world is over.

The message of our today’s unanimous condemnation of unilateral coercive measures, in particular, ‘unilateral embargo and sanctions’ is that the preservation of interests and security in the world in the least costly manner is solely possible through the cooperation, solidarity and coordination among, countries in the framework of multilateralism. Although, it is unfortunate that we are witnessing rulers in the world who think they can secure their interests better—or at least in the short-term ride public sentiments and gain popular support—through the fomenting of extremist nationalism and racism, as well as through the trampling of global rules and undermining international institutions.

Confronting multilateralism by resorting to unilateral actions, including imposition of embargo and sanctions, is not a sign of strength; rather it is a symptom of the weakness of intellect—it betrays an inability in understanding a complex and interconnected world. 

Thank you Mr. President.”