New york: Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has emphasized that reforming the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is not a choice, but a necessity for the survival of the United Nations. Araghchi delivered a speech on Thursday at the second meeting of BRICS Foreign Ministers, titled 'Reconstructing the Global Order: The Necessity of Reforming International Governance and Revitalizing Multilateralism'.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, the top Iranian diplomat said that today, the world stands in an era of structural instability and a deep crisis of trust. The structures governing the international order, designed in the post-World War II era, are no longer capable of responding to the realities of the 21st century. The gap between emerging powers and traditional decision-making structures not only threatens global stability but has also fueled widespread injustice in the distribution of power, wealth, and developmental opportunities, he added.
Today, sanctions have transformed from diplomatic tools into weapons for economic warfare and pressure on developing and independent societies, he said, adding that these actions, carried out in blatant violation of international law, target not only governments but the fundamental rights of human beings-including the right to life, the right to access health, food, and development. Araghchi said that sanctions imposed on nations are illegal acts that distort the global economic order, with goals that go beyond conflict resolution to create pressure to change political behavior.
The Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes that confronting this 'economic terrorism' and creating independent financial mechanisms within the framework of BRICS is an undeniable necessity for preserving the independence and national sovereignty of countries, he added. The top Iranian diplomat said that the world today is witnessing a return to the era of endless wars, naked violence, and extreme unilateralism, adding that the ideal of peace, freedom, and respect for human rights and dignity has faded.
He said that the application of international law, international humanitarian law, and the UN Charter by powerful aggressors has been reduced to mere words and lies to justify war and occupation. Most international organizations, particularly the United Nations, have seen their legislative power diminished by unilateral bullying, he added. In such circumstances, the ideal of the 'Global South's multilateralism'-upon which BRICS is founded and in which it is crystallized-is more essential and vital than ever for respecting international law, the UN Charter, and global governance, Araghchi said, adding that BRICS members consider themselves committed to the implementation and defense of the principles of this Charter.
He said that the principle of the 'non-use of force,' as a brilliant and central tenet of the UN Charter and a human achievement forged through the bitter experiences of world wars, now faces a serious challenge from the United States. Illegal and unilateral wars by this country have brought the foundations of the international order-which previously bordered on collapse due to lack of justice-to a state now mingled with savagery and barbarism, Araghchi added.
He said that the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes the necessity of fundamental reforms in international organizations, especially the UN Security Council. The reforms we seek are for the 'equitable distribution of power,' not merely a change in name or the composition of members. We seek an order in which: Justice replaces power, national sovereignty is the primary principle, the rights of all human beings are respected, and cultural and political diversity is accepted.
The current political system requires a total revision, he said, adding that today, the Security Council is a clear symbol of inefficiency and imbalance. A glaring example of this council's failure is its silence in the face of the imposed and aggressive war by the US and the Zionist regime against the Islamic Republic of Iran, Araghchi noted. In this war, women and children have been systematically and purposefully targeted, he said, adding that these actions are a flagrant violation of the four Geneva Conventions and are clear instances of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The most catastrophic example was the two-stage attack on the 'Shahid Motahhari' girls' school in the city of Minab, where 168 innocent human beings-including both female and male students-were martyred during school hours in their place of education, he said. The military aggression, which began at 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, did not even allow schools the chance to dismiss or for students to return home, he added.
The Iranian government declared a nationwide school closure immediately following the terrorist act against the Leader and the start of the military aggression, but the aggressors did not give the children even half an hour to survive; with a second strike, they targeted the Minab school, Araghchi said. The top Iranian diplomat underlined that the attacks on Iran's vital infrastructure-including refineries, petrochemical complexes, bridges, railways, stadiums, cultural and historical centers, energy transmission lines, and important industrial facilities-continue this trend. These infrastructures are not just technical or economic facilities; they are the backbone of the people's daily lives, he added.
He said that defending Iran is defending a universal principle: that no country's security should be built upon the ruins of the homes, schools, and vital infrastructure of another nation. Araghchi called upon all governments and international organizations to stand with a clear and responsible voice against attacks on civilians and vital infrastructure in Iran and to defend the rule of law, justice, and human dignity. The international community must set aside double standards and demonstrate that the life of a child in Minab is as valuable as the life of a child anywhere else in the world, he added.
Accordingly, reforming the Security Council is not a choice, but a necessity for the survival of the United Nations, he said, adding that Iran seeks a Council that truly represents all continents and regions of the world-a Council where power is distributed with accountability and justice, rather than serving only the interests of certain exploitative and aggressive powers. In the meantime, the BRICS group, representing a large portion of the world's population and economy, possesses unique potential to become the backbone of genuine multilateralism, he said, adding that in BRICS, they must work not to create a confrontational block, but to create a strategic balance.
Their cooperation in economic, financial, and technological fields can reduce dependence on monopolistic structures and provide new space for independence and sustainable development, he said, adding that BRICS can be a model of cooperation based on mutual respect and shared benefit. Araghchi said that the time has come to move from 'crisis management' to 'structural management.'