By: Kayhan Int’l Staff Writer

It was not just an appropriate appraisal of the Islamic Republic, its goals for the welfare of its people in line with Iran’s sovereignty, security, independence, and progress as well as ensuring of regional stability, but also an excellent display of diplomacy on the international scene in quest of world peace and justice by firmly opposing hegemony, terrorism, occupation, exploitation, interference, sanctions and discrimination.
In other words, President Seyyed Ibrahim Raisi’s maiden speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday through video that echoed in the main hall of the World Body in New York to the rapt attention of delegates from around the globe, was the first time in many years that an Iranian Chief Executive was neither after undue expectations nor trying to unnecessarily appease big powers by harping on any flawed accord in the misconstrued hope of lifting of some illegal sanctions.
He was frank and forthright when he said “the perseverance of nations is stronger than the power of the superpowers”, and “sanctions, especially sanctions on medicine at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, are crimes against humanity.”
He took note of the undeniable fact that “the US’ hegemonic system has no credibility, whether inside or outside the country”, by pointing to two of the most disgraceful events of 2021 that occurred “from the Capital Hill (in Washington) to Kabul (in Afghanistan)”, sending “one clear message to the world” and leaving a permanent blot on the lawless American regime.
“Two scenes made history: one was on January the 6th when the US Congress was attacked by crowds and, two, when the people of Afghanistan were dropped down (to their death) from the US planes in August.”
Raisi in his speech that seemed to awaken the conscience of the audience and rattled the enemies of humanity, said: “The result of seeking hegemony has been blood-spilling and instability, and ultimately, defeat and escape. Today, the US does not get to exit Iraq and Afghanistan but is expelled. And, at the same time, it is the oppressed people, from Palestine and Syria to Yemen and Afghanistan, as well as the US taxpayers, who have to pay for this lack of rationality.”
He outlined the strategic thoughts of the Islamic Republic of Iran as “rooted in the ideas of the Father of the Islamic Revolution, the late Imam Khomeini (RA) as well as in the genuine concepts of true Islam, i.e. rationality, prudence and pondering and have resulted in the resistance in line with the national interests of countries.”
The Iranian president made clear the rationality of Tehran’s blueprint for regional peace without any meddling by outsiders whose goal is destabilization that would ultimately boomerang upon them, when he said:
“It has been our policy to strive for the preservation of stability and territorial integrity of all the countries of the region. If not for the power and role of Iran alongside the governments and peoples of Syria and Iraq as well as all the selfless efforts of Martyrs Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and General Qassem Soleimani, today ISIS (terrorists) would be the Mediterranean neighbours of Europe. And, of course, ISIS will not be the last wave of extremism.”
He deplored the illegal and unwarranted military presence of the US in Syria and Iraq as “the biggest hindrance to the establishment of democracy and will of nations”, adding: Freedom does not fit in the backpacks of soldiers coming from outside the region.”
On neighbouring Afghanistan, he did not mince any words when he objected to the Taliban militia’s imposing of their factional rule on the whole country, saying: “If an inclusive government having an effective participation of all ethnicities shouldn’t emerge to run Afghanistan, security will not be restored to the country. And like occupation, paternalism is also doomed to failure.”
According to Raisi the solution to the crimes against humanity in Saudi-UAE-aggressed Yemen is the speedy and unconditional stop to the aggression, opening of channels for providing humanitarian aid, and facilitation of constructive talks between (only) Yemeni groups.”
In his UN address that also included the chronic question of Occupied Palestine, he remarked: “The occupier Zionist regime is the organiser of the biggest state terrorism whose agenda is to slaughter women and children in Gaza and the West Bank. Today, an all-out blockade has turned Gaza to the biggest prison in the world.”
He reiterated: “There is only one solution: holding a referendum with the participation of all Palestinians of all religions and ethnicities including Muslims, Christians and (original) Jews. This solution was set forth by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution (Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei) many years ago which is now registered as one of the official documents of the United Nations.”
The Islamic Republic is for cooperation with all world countries, he concluded.