Speaking at a UN commemoration event marking the 78th anniversary of the Nakba, held in New York on May 15, Saeed Iravani described the mass displacement of Palestinians as a continuing regional tragedy rooted in occupation and denial of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
He also stressed that expressions of solidarity are insufficient without concrete action to address the “Zionist occupational and expansionist policies” driving violence, displacement, and humanitarian suffering in Palestine.
The text of his speech is as follows:
In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
Mr. Chair, Excellencies,
On the seventy‑eighth anniversary of the Nakba, which marked the mass displacement of Palestinians and remains a profound regional tragedy, we are reminded of their collective expulsion and the long‑standing denial of their fundamental rights, including the right to self‑determination.
Despite decades of violence, war crimes, and the ongoing impact of occupation, the Palestinian people have preserved their identity, dignity, and legitimate aspirations. Their struggle underscores the urgent need for international mobilization to confront the root causes of this situation, including the Zionist occupational and expansionist policies that drive the inhumane pressures imposed on Palestinians, such as starving civilians, including children, and acts of state terrorism aimed at ethnic cleansing and displacement of Palestinians from their homeland.
While reaffirming its solidarity with the Palestinian people, the Islamic Republic of Iran stresses that support for their cause must move beyond a sole expression of sympathy. It requires actively addressing these root causes, which are reinforced by broader patterns of militarism by the occupying regime in the region and supported by extra‑regional actors.
Distinguished Colleagues,
The continuation of this situation demands a critical reassessment of approaches that have failed to deliver peace or justice. Surrender is not an option. History will honour those who resisted oppression and defended freedom and self‑determination, and it will judge those who enabled injustice through silence or indifference.
We remain convinced that the future of Palestine must be determined by its own people. The international community must adopt a more action‑oriented approach, reject double standards, and align its conduct with the universal values it claims to uphold. We believe that the pursuit of justice leaves no path other than steadfast resistance. This determination, grounded in unity, cooperation, and a shared sense of purpose among the region, remains essential for achieving justice and securing a lasting peace.
I thank you.