In a letter for UN Secretary-General António Guterres and President of the UN Security Council Michael G. Waltz on March 24, Saeed Iravani expressed Iran’s firm reservations regarding a statement issued by the OIC that erroneously characterizes Iran's position on issues pertaining to the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council.

What follows is the text of his letter:

In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

Excellency,

I would like to refer to document No. S/2026/152, dated 12 March 2026, concerning the letter dated 9 March 2026 from the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Türkiye to the United Nations, transmitting, in his capacity as Chair of the Group of Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in New York, a so-called document entitled "OIC Group Statement on the Iranian attacks against the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf and other OIC Member States".

The communication was transmitted as a purported statement of the aforementioned Group, despite the absence of consensus and the fact that the draft text was never adopted by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The Islamic Republic of Iran twice broke the silence procedure on the draft, accompanied by formal proposals which, in accordance with established practice, should have been circulated to all Member States.

The document does not accurately reflect the discussions of the meeting held on 5 March 2026. During that meeting, several-though not all-participating delegations expressed views reflecting differing positions within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on recent regional developments. No consensus emerged, and no conclusions were adopted. Any characterization of the document as reflecting the outcome of that meeting is categorically rejected.

The circulated text further omits essential views expressed during the meeting, including those condemning the unprovoked and unjustified acts of aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as their brutal attacks against civilians, including women and children, and against civilian infrastructure. It also disregards arguments presented in support of Iran's inherent right of self-defense in response to attacks launched through the misuse of the territory of neighboring States and the military presence of the aggressors therein.

The Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations had already submitted, in good faith, its comments and proposals on both the title and substance of the aforementioned draft statement. It further underscored that Iran's objections to the unbalanced content of the text constitute principal and substantive opposition to its adoption as a Group position and do not amount to a mere reservation.

In accordance with the working methods of intergovernmental bodies, including the OIC Group in New York, any draft intended to reflect a Group position must first be circulated for comments and negotiation. The silence procedure may be initiated only once a draft reflecting the views of all members has emerged. In the present case, no discussion or negotiation took place prior to the initiation of the silence procedure, and the comments submitted by the Islamic Republic of Iran were not circulated to the membership, thereby denying Member States the opportunity to consider or respond thereto.

In light of these procedural and substantive deficiencies, and given that the process required for the adoption of a joint statement of the OIC Group of Permanent Representatives in New York was not completed, I wish to convey the firm position of the Islamic Republic of Iran in objecting to the submission and circulation of the letter dated 9 March 2026 from Türkiye and its attachment as a purported OIC Group statement.

I should be grateful if you would have the present letter circulated as an official document of the Security Council under the agenda item entitled "Threats to international peace and security".

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.