US bleak record of conduct (2)

The regional developments in recent years have shown that US-led hegemonic powers take advantage of terrorism and extremism for achievement of their goals.

Terrorism and extremism is a threat against Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, and the global peace and security.

In the view of Iran, resolution of the problem of terrorism and insecurity is tied to several factors; the most important of which is severance of the infiltration and interference of foreign powers; and reinforcement and consolidation of cooperation among regional countries.

The Leader of Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, wrote two letters to Western youths, in the year 2015; putting emphasis on the reconsideration of root causes of entrapment of mankind in violence and radicalism.

In these letters, the Leader of Islamic Revolution, rightfully mentioned the contradictory and paradoxical policies of the US and the West toward terrorism; the military attack on the World of Islam; bloodshed in Palestine, and the necessity to confront aggressive views.

Although there is no single definition of terrorism, and while many countries consider opposition toward ruling systems as terrorism; however, based on the presented definitions, the word terrorism means forcing an individual and/or a group to do something via scaremongering. In all of the definitions presented for the word terrorism, weapons have not been named as the sole means of scaremongering. Now, the question which springs to mind, is that who is a terrorist?

A few years ago, the US carried out a new act of terrorism, which is referred to as economic terrorism. The Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the targets of US economic terrorism. Throughout the recent years, economic terrorism against Iran has intensified.

In this process, the US, via unilateralism and imposition of illegal sanctions has challenged the economic and social development of the international community.

Iran's Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, in his recent keynote remarks at UN Headquarters in New York, noted that imposition of illegal sanctions by the US on the Iranian nation violates UN Security Council Resolution 2231, and poses a major threat against the goals of sustainable development in Iran and many of its neighboring countries.

In regards to hurdles to growth and development, Iran's foreign minister referred to regional threats, and the lack of security which has been stirred by the foreign supporters of terrorism; while calling for the re-commitment of countries around the world toward multilateralism, and formation of global solidarity in order to lay the grounds for continuous economic growth and sustainable development of all countries.

The fact of the matter is that countries like Iran never submit to terrorism, and will ultimately defeat economic terrorism.

Despite the consequences of imposition of illegal sanctions against the grand Iranian nation; Islamic Iran has stood firm against US pressures and economic terrorism, via the relentless efforts of the Iranian nation and the sacred Islamic system, based on the national principles and priorities.

Meanwhile, it should be noted that if the international community does not unite and take measures against economic terrorism, this terrorism will spread across the world, sooner or later.

Terrorism, in all of its forms and shapes, is a problem which has been stirred by the US and its cohorts; with the collaboration of a number of aggressive and mischievous regimes in the region. The new form of terrorism stirred by the US emerged in the aftermath of 9/11, with the US invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and the meddlesome policies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the region.

US regional allies, who have supported Al-Qaeda, Taliban, former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, and extremists; have supported terrorist outfits in recent years in a futile bid to somehow stir insecurity in Islamic Iran. in the past 40 years, Islamic Republic of Iran has been one of the main victims of terrorism and extremism, and has made utmost efforts to uproot this ominous and sinister phenomenon. More than 17,000 Iranian officials and ordinary people have been the victims of terrorism in the past 40 years, and the sacred Islamic system and the Iranian nation are highly determined to uproot terrorism and terrorist outfits.

The US regime plays a destructive role in regional and international equations. The US, via creation of Al-Qaeda terrorist outfit, and supporting Daesh terrorist group, turned West Asia into a crisis-stricken, and war-torn region.

Meanwhile, the US president, Donald Trump, in a baseless claim, has blatantly named Iran and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, which is the champion of campaign against terrorism in the region, as supporters of terrorism.

In the meantime, the US-based daily, The Boston Globe, in a report, has lashed out against the double standards of the US administration toward terrorism; noting that Iran has been accused of supporting terrorism because this country is against the domineering and meddlesome policies of the US in the region.

FM: Iranian nation exposed to US brutal economic terrorism

New York, July 17, IRNA – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Wednesday that Iranian people are subject to the most cruel form of economic terrorism--deliberately targeting innocent civilians to achieve illegitimate political objectives.

Addressing the Ministerial Meeting of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, he added, "The unlawful extraterritorial economic sanctions imposed on Iran by the United States in violation of Security Council resolution 2231 represent the greatest threat to the achievement of sustainable development goals of Iran and many of our neighbors."

Full text of Zarif's statements reads as follows:

"In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Madam President,

As we address this year’s HLPF theme of "empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality", we note that Secretary General’s report indicates sluggish progress in many areas, and underlines that “the most vulnerable people and countries continue to suffer the most and that the global response thus far has not been ambitious enough”. We agree with the Secretary-General that "inequality between and within countries is disturbingly high" and that "development is not sustainable if it is not fair and inclusive."

Failure so far can be attributed to the failure of the developed world in keeping their side of the bargain, including those related to transfer of technology, capacity building, and financial assistance.

Madam President,

In spite of huge impediments caused by unlawful unilateral sanctions, the Islamic Republic of Iran has made significant progress in people’s empowerment and equality, working on the basis of Its own principles and national priorities: 27% of faculty members, 50% of college students, and 37% of medical doctors are currently women. At the decision-making level, there has been a 60% increase in appointments in a bid to ensure our goal that by 2020, 30% of national decision makers are women.

In the implementation of our national “Comprehensive Low-Carbon Plan”, we surpassed our intended mitigation of greenhouse gas emission of 4% lower than BAU.

Ending illiteracy and providing free public education has approached its full realization, and the literacy rate among Iranians is now at 97% of the population. An average of 15% of household expenditure is now spent on education.

Effective training for the socially harmed and disadvantaged groups, as well as for rural and nomad communities and prisoners, is now being offered.  Educational opportunities have been extended to migrants and refugees, and currently 400,000 Afghan students are registered at local schools in Iran.

We in Iran face serious challenges in these efforts, challenges that include natural disasters, land degradation, desertification, and water scarcity. Regional threats and insecurity caused by foreign-sponsored terrorism, extremism and violence, hamper our efforts. Our people are also subjected to the most brutal form of “economic terrorism”--deliberately targeting innocent civilians to achieve illegitimate political objectives. The unlawful extraterritorial economic sanctions imposed on Iran by the United States in violation of Security Council resolution 2231 represent the greatest threat to the achievement of sustainable development goals of Iran and many of our neighbors.

 Madam President

A renewed commitment to multilateralism and global solidarity is urgently needed. This should also entail, among others, the developed world re-visiting its commitment to help create an enabling environment for sustained economic growth and sustainable development of all countries, regions, and ultimately the planet as a whole.

I thank you for your attention."