UNGA: Iranian Threats and Aggression

[Huojin]

Adnan Muzahim Ameen al-Pachachi
Permanent Representative of the Iraqi Republic to the United Nations

Friends of the United Nations,

A grave and most serious shadow looms over the Middle East, one that threatens to cast the whole region into bloodshed and war. We speak, as you are no doubt aware, of the intentions of the Shah of Iran and his intended actions with regard to the Yemen Arab Republic - an Arab nation, recognised by this organisation and most of the world's nations. Those of you who are aware of proceedings within the Arab League will no doubt be aware that the League has recently committed to the deployment of an intervention force to North Yemen to stabilise the Republic's government in light of recent arming of rebel forces undertaken by the Iranian and Saudi governments.

What will no doubt shock many of you is that, despite warnings issues to the Iranian government on behalf of the Arab League that further interference which endangers the lives of Arab League personnel may constitute a hostile act and will risk war with the Arab World, the Shah's government has shown every intention of intending to proceed with this course of action - thus placing national self-interest and jingoism ahead of international peace and cooperation, whilst further being in violation of the UN Charter.

We humbly beseech the member states of the United Nations to speak out against these aggressive tendencies, and compel the Iranian government to commit to peaceful resolutions to conflicts. To that end, we submit the following resolution:

The General Assembly,

Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Recognising that the Yemen Arab Republic is the established government of North Yemen according to the United Nations,

Noting Iranian violations of both the Charter of the United Nations and international norms in arming insurgent forces in North Yemen,

Noting the Arab League's intentions to peacefully enter and stabilise the region in accordance with its mandate and the Charter of the United Nations,

Acknowledging the issued warnings by the Arab League to the Iranian government concerning further intervention by the Iranian government in North Yemen,

Gravely concerned at Iranian government refusals to commit to non-action and to the contrary, their insistence of pursuing a course of action liable not only to seriously increase tensions in the region but also to raise the spectre of war,

Desirous of preventing the senseless escalation of tensions in the region and enforcing the Charter of the United Nations,

1. Reaffirms that the Yemen Arab Republic remains the recognised government of North Yemen by the United Nations.

2. Condemns the Iranian government's interference and open arming of insurgencies within North Yemen.

3. Calls upon the Iranian government to commit to ending its insurgent policy in North Yemen.

4. Draws the attention of the Security Council to the situation in the region and urges it to take further action should the Iranian government fail to give effect to this resolution.

[Aesculus]

Israel NO

[Luc]

Yakov Alexandrovich Malik

Permanent Representative of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics to the United Nations

The Soviet Union votes in favour of this resolution.

[Azagal]

Mehdi Vakil, Permanent Representative to the United Nations for the Imperial State of Iran


The Imperial State of Iran is no aggressor, and never has been. Along with several other states, it has sought to restore stability and the rightful government of North Yemen in our eyes, the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen, to power. The means by which the so called Yemen Arab Republic came to power now some six years ago, by a military coup of Egyptian trained and indoctrinated officers, was neither democratic, legal or in any form or way asked by the people. This has been seen before in the region. Now a decade ago the King of Iraq, his heir and the Iraqi prime minister were butchered and mutilated in the July 14th ''Revolution'', against all conventions regarding human rights, the laws of the Kingdom of Iraq and without a free and just trial. In its place came a one party dictatorship, and from Iraq and Egypt spread these ideas of pan-arabism and military dictatorship, now into North Yemen.

As a democratic state, the Imperial State of Iran never has nor will support military coup d'etat's against the rightful government, as was done in Iraq a decade ago and six years ago. Some may say this is exactly what we have done now, but one would be mistaken. The rightful government of North Yemen, the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen, was couped some six years ago but then fled into the desert of their native homeland. We sent aid to the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen, and will continue to do so until their government has once again full authority over North Yemen.

We urge the international community to vote against this resolution, as it legitimizes the effort of member states of the United Nations supporting the violent overthrow of other member states, as the Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Iraq have done with their support for the so called Yemen Arab Republic, and to once again recognize the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen, once again in control of most of the country and the capital, as the rightful government of North Yemen. Does the international community truly wish to undermine the charter of the UN by setting precedent for those wishing to rob others of their voice by intrigue and subterfuge ? We think not.

On this note, we strongly vote against this resolution

[OYID]

Cuba votes Yes

[Huojin]

Adnan Muzahim Ameen al-Pachachi
Permanent Representative of the Iraqi Republic to the United Nations

Whether Iran approves of revolution as a means for governmental change in the face of deep oppression - a method, it ought to be noted, that has been utilised throughout history to rise up against tyrants professing to rule by virtue of divine right from the harbours of Boston to the streets of Paris and Baghdad - is an irrelevant consideration here. Nor shall we listen to the lamentations of an oppressive and autocratic regime such as that of the Shah's opine on the virtues of democracy and popular support, for if any nations ought to do so, it should be those you so malign - as the people of Egypt, and Iraq, and North Yemen, and more besides, have all chosen to rally in unison behind progress and equality.

Nevertheless, the matter is clear. The Yemen Arab Republic has been and continues to be recognised by the United Nations as a legitimate member of this organisation and the representatives of the North Yemeni people. In acting as they have, Iran has breached the United Nations Charter - and they further propose to continue doing so, despite the jeopardy in which their actions place the fragile balance of peace in the Middle East.

We speak clearly and solely on the facts, my friends. To ignore this threat from Iran is to cast down the governing charter of this very institution and endorse the aggressive acts of the Shah and the threat to peace that they pose.