General Assembly: 111th Plenary meeting, 80th session

The one hundred and eleventh plenary meeting of the General Assembly is called to order. The Assembly will resume its consideration of agenda item 99 entitled General and Complete Disarmament to hear remaining speakers in the high level meeting to commemorate and promote the International Day against Nuclear Test. As decided at yesterday's meeting, the time limits for statements in this commemorative meeting be three minutes for delegations speaking in their national capacity and five minutes for statements on behalf of group of states. Accordingly, when a representative exceeds her or his allotted time, the President shall call the speaker to order without delay, which will be done by means of automatic microphone cut off. To assist delegations in managing their time, a countdown clock will be displayed on the screens. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kyrgyzstan.

Madam President, at the outset, we would like to thank the President of the General Assembly for convening today's meeting to commemorate the International Day Against Nuclear Tests. This year, we commemorate this International Day with particular significance. We mark 30 years since the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was opened for signature. 35 years since the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, and 20 years since the signing of the treaty on the nuclear weapon-free zone in Central Asia. These milestones demonstrates that the determined political will and the multilateral cooperation can turn the legacy of nuclear testing into concrete commitments to peace and security. Kyrgyzstan remains firmly committed to the complete and irreversible cessation of the nuclear testing. As a state that has signed and ratified the CTBT, we reiterate our strong support for its early entry into the force. In this context, we attach particular importance to preserving the CTBT's regime and in particular the work of the international monitoring system. Kyrgyzstan contributes to its effective functioning by hosting and maintaining the Alarcha seismic station. which forms an integral part of the CTBT's global verification network. We are equally proud of Central Asian contribution to the global disarmament and non-proliferation architecture. The Central Asian Nuclear Test, Nuclear Weapon Free Zone presents a historical collective choice by all five states. Kyrgyzstan as a depository of the treaty remains committed to strengthening its role in promoting nuclear weapon free zone as an important contribution to regional and international security. Our commitment also extends to raising global awareness of disarmament and non-proliferation. The General Assembly proclaimed 5th of March as an International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness. We will continue to use this platform to engage governments, civil society, academia, and particularly the younger generations. Madam President, at the time of current geopolitical tensions and growing nuclear tests, any return to nuclear explosion testing would undermine international security. Nuclear testing can never be a path to greater security. In conclusion, Kyrgyzstan will continue to work with all partners to preserve the international norm against nuclear testing, bringing the CTBT into force, and advance our shared goal of the world free of nuclear weapons. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Kyrgyzstan, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kabulvir.

Madam President, dear Permanent Representatives here present, dear colleagues, good afternoon. Madam President, Cabo Verde supports the statement delivered by Burundi on behalf of the African Group, and I have the honour to deliver this statement in my national capacity. Cabo Verde is a state party that is firmly committed to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament and has adopted a historic position of total renunciation of these types of weapons. My country is in full compliance with international directives through tangible actions which include strengthening multilateralism, international cooperation, respect for international law and the promotion of peace for the security of humanity. Cabo Verde has officially acceded to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It did so in 1979 as a non-nuclear weapons state, and it commits to never developing, acquiring or receiving any type of military technology. My country has signed agreements, safeguards agreements and additional protocols with the International Atomic Energy Agency in order to guarantee and provide safeguards for any nuclear activity on its territory. to make sure that it is exclusively for peaceful purposes, Cabo Verde was one of the first countries to sign the new Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons at United Nations headquarters in September 2017. The National Assembly of Cabo Verde ratified this text unanimously. The country is therefore legally bound by its provisions on the prohibition since the 18th of September 2022. Madam President of the General Assembly, Cape Verde and its diplomacy actively supports the idea that the very existence of nuclear weapons constitutes an existential threat for humanity. The official position of the country is that an international legal prohibition acts as an essential pillar in discouraging global proliferation and in encouraging nuclear powers to make an effort towards complete disarmament. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cabo Verde and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Tonga.

Madam Vice President, the Kingdom of Tonga joins the international community in solemnly commemorating the International Day Against Nuclear Tests and in paying profound tribute to all those whose lives, ancestral lands and livelihoods continue to endure the lasting consequences of nuclear testing. For the peoples of our blue Pacific continent, Nuclear testing is not a distant chapter of history, but a solemn and enduring reality. Our region continues to confront its devastating human and environmental legacy, a shared experience that compels us to speak with unwavering conviction in defense of peace, human dignity, and trust across generations. We must consign such suffering permanently to history and ensure that future generations inherit a world of peace, justice, dignity, security, and prosperity. On 7 July 2026, Tonga deposited its instrument of ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and its instrument of accession to the Treaty on the Prohibition of nuclear weapons. These actions reaffirm Tonga's steadfast conviction that international peace and security must rest upon multilateralism, international law, and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. Tonga commends the indispensable work of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization and its global verification regime. Yet, 30 years after the treaty opened for signature, its entry into force remains an unfinished business. We therefore call upon all states that have yet to sign or ratify the treaty to do so without further delay. The prohibition of nuclear testing is an important aspiration and a responsibility owed to humanity and to generations yet unborn. Tonga stands ready to continue advancing with conviction the pursuit of a peaceful, secure, and nuclear weapon free world. Malau'o Opito, I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Tonga, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Samoa.

Madam President, 30 years after the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty opened for signature, we are reminded that ending all nuclear tests is essential to achieving a nuclear weapons-free world. The world has no need for nuclear testing in any part of our fragile planet. Such activities are incompatible with our collective responsibility to safeguard human health, environmental integrity and the well-being of future generation. Nuclear weapons are nemesis to all and they undermine global security, stability and trust. Their continued existence stand in direct contradiction to our shared commitment to peace, sustainable development, and the rule of international law. The Pacific has suffered heavily from the impact of over 300 nuclear tests carried out in our region from 1946 to 1996 in the atmosphere, underground, and underwater. The consequences continue to be felt across generations. Island communities were displaced from their ancestral land, disconnected from the ocean livelihood, and forced to endure severe health conditions. Radioactive waste and machinery have been buried or dumped in our ocean and to this day continue to pose grave threats to marine ecosystem and human health. These were the key elements in the adoption of the Treaty of Rarotonga in 1985 and the establishment of the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone. The endorsement of the Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration by Pacific leaders also reaffirm our collective vision of the blue Pacific remaining an ocean of peace, free from nuclear weapons, nuclear testing, and radioactive contamination. Madam President, we should not have to wait another 30 years for the CTBT's entry into force. Samoa therefore calls on all remaining Annex II States to sign and ratify the Treaty without delay. and urges all nations to maintain a strict moratorium on nuclear testing. Finally, Samoa congratulates the Kingdom of Tonga on recently becoming a state party to the treaty. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Samoa and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kiribati.

Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Kiribati is honored to join this important commemoration of the International Day Against Nuclear Test and initiative spearheaded by our good friend Kazakhstan. As a country affected by nuclear testing, Kiribati speaks from an experience that continues to shape our national consciousness. Between 1957 and 1962, 33 nuclear weapons were tested at Malden Island and Christmas Island in Kiribati. Those tests are part of our history, but their legacy continues to be felt by our people and across our islands. This experience has strengthened Kiribati's enduring commitment to the prevention of nuclear testing and to the pursuit of a world free from nuclear tests and nuclear weapons. Kiribati therefore reaffirms its strong support for the CTBT and its objective of ending all nuclear weapon testing. We call upon all States that have not yet signed or ratified the Treaty to do so without delay. and upon all states to work towards its early entry into force. Kiribati further wishes to commend the Kingdom of Tonga for its recent ratification of the CTBT, an important contribution to advancing the treaty's universalization and strengthening the international norm against nuclear testing. Kiribati is also conscious of the broader regional legacy of nuclear testing, We acknowledge with appreciation the vision and perseverance of Pacific leaders, communities and civil society that contributed to establishing the South Pacific Nuclear Weapon Free Zone and to advancing efforts to end nuclear testing in the region. Kiribati is a proud supporter of the TPNW and together with Kazakhstan, we remain committed to strengthening international cooperation, including advancing the establishment of an international trust fund to support affected communities. Excellencies, let this international day reaffirm our shared commitment to prevent nuclear testing, support affected communities, protect our environment, and advance international peace and security. Kiribati may be a small island nation, but our experience carries a message of universal importance. The consequences of decisions made today can extend far into the future. Let us remember, let us strengthen our cooperation, and let us continue working together towards a world free from nuclear tests, free from nuclear weapons, and free from fear. I thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Kiribati. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Marshall Islands.

Madam President, Excellencies, the Republic of the Marshall Islands stands proud to speak in full support of today's commemoration of the International Day Against Nuclear Test. We fervently believe that no nation and no people should they ever again experience the burden of nuclear testing impacts. These words of Marshallese who go back to some of the earliest nuclear tests ever conducted and who saw with their own eyes the devastation visited upon their islands, environment, and health. From 1946 to 1958, During our status as a strategic UN trusteeship, the United Nations administering authority, the United States, undertook 67 large-scale atmospheric detonations, the equivalent of 1.6 Hiroshima-sized bombs every day for 12 years. While the islands were destroyed, the whole islands were destroyed, And what remains was beyond recognition. Fallout rained upon nearby islands, and children played in toxic ash, thinking it for snow. In 1954, Dwight Hyde, a Marshallese, traveled to the United Nations Trusteeship Council in New York and presented a petition on behalf of the Marshallese people. He urged the UN Trusteeship Council to halt any further testing out of concern for the harm to the Marshall Islands communities that had been exposed, the scale of loss and what relocation truly meant to them. In response, the Trusteeship Council adopted resolution 1082, effectively allowing nuclear testing to continue if the administering authority deemed it necessary for world peace. This resolution and the one that followed in 1956 remained the only instances in which a UN organ explicitly authorized nuclear tests. Four more years of testing continued, including thermonuclear detonations. The effects and experience of nuclear testing are an important lens through which our human rights are understood, including--.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Marshall Islands. Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bangladesh.

Madam President, thank you for convening this high-level plenary meeting as we commemorate the International Day Against Nuclear Tests. This even gives us the opportunity to reiterate that nuclear testing has no place in our future. This year also marks 30 years since the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Its adoption in 1996 represented a historic achievement and established a powerful global norm against nuclear explosive testing. Even after 30 years, that norm remains indispensable. Yet the fact that the treaty has still not entered into force is a grave concern for mankind. Madam President, as one of the Annex II States, Bangladesh acted on its responsibility early. We signed the treaty in 1996 and deposited our instrument of ratification in 2000. It is to be mentioned that Bangladesh was the first South Asian country to ratify the treaty. This testifies our longstanding commitment to general and complete disarmament. Nevertheless, a Herculean task remains at our end for the treaty's entry into force. We therefore urge the remaining annexed two states to ratify the treaty without further delay. Madam President, nuclear testing has left a painful human and environmental legacy. Exposure to radioactive fallout has caused serious and long-term health consequences to the affected communities. The experience of these communities is a powerful reminder that the prohibition of nuclear testing is not merely a disarmament objective. It is a humanitarian and environmental imperative. In this regard, Bangladesh also recognizes the contribution of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in reinforcing the humanitarian imperative for nuclear disarmament. Madam President, We believe that all member states have their respective responsibility to support the universal universalization of city. Its entry into force will help ensure a perpetual end to nuclear testing. We owe this commitment to our offsprings since a nuclear weapons free world is the status quo that should prevail in the future. Thank you, madam.

I thank the distinguished representative of Bangladesh, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Madam President, allow me to express my gratitude for convening this meeting. We also commend CASOGESEAN for its initiative in promoting the International Day Against Nuclear Test. 30 years after the adoption of the CTBT, we underscore the particular responsibility of nuclear weapon states and those that remain outside the NPT to join the CTBT, fully implement its provisions and contribute to its entry into force. We also remain concerned that nuclear weapon states continue to modernize and upgrade their nuclear arsenals, including through subcritical experiments and advanced computer simulations. Such practices, while seeking to circumvent the prohibition on nuclear explosions, undermine the object and purpose of the treaty and perpetuate reliance on nuclear weapons. The dangers posed by nuclear activities are not confined to nuclear explosions. Military attacks against nuclear facilities create comparable risk of radiological contamination and humanitarian catastrophe, with consequences that can extend far beyond the immediate area of an attack and across national borders. The unlawful attacks by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran's peaceful and safeguarded nuclear facilities carried out on two occasions in less than a year and a half demonstrate the seriousness of these threats. Iran's nuclear facilities have also previously been targeted through the Stuxnet cyber attack. Equally alarming are attacks by the Israeli regime against Iranian cities hosting international monitoring system stations. Such actions endanger technical personnel and threaten infrastructure essential to the CTBT verification regime. The international community must unequivocally condemn such actions and reject any attempt to undermine the safety and integrity of nuclear facilities and CTBT monitoring infrastructure through the threat or use of force. Those responsible for such violations must be held accountable under international law. The attacks against Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities underscore the urgency of establishing a clear international legal regime prohibiting any attack against or threat of attack against nuclear installations. The IAEA General Conference recognized this need in 2019. Yet, little progress has been made. The victims of nuclear testing remind us of the devastating human cost of indifference. On this day, we must stand resolutely against all forms of nuclear danger, whether manifested through nuclear testing, threats of nuclear use, the modernization of nuclear arsenals.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malta.

Madam President, Malta aligns itself with the statements delivered by the European Union and WAIAG on this occasion. This International Day provides an opportunity to remember the devastating consequences of nuclear testing and to reaffirm our collective responsibility to ensure that such testing never takes place again. Nuclear tests have left lasting consequences for communities, human health and the environment. We must remember those who suffered and ensure that these lessons are never forgotten. Malta firmly condemns nuclear testing in all its forms and reaffirms its commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons. The CTBT has established a strong global norm against nuclear testing, while its verification regime, including the international monitoring system, demonstrates the value of international cooperation in strengthening collective security. On this occasion, Malta congratulates Tonga on becoming the 179th state party to ratify the CTBT. On the other hand, we regret the Russian Federation's revocation of the ratification of the treaty, We also call on the DPRK to refrain from further testing and the launching of ballistic missiles. It should also comply with relevant Security Council resolutions. We further call upon all the remaining Annex II States to sign and ratify without further delay. We urge all States to maintain moratoria on nuclear weapon tests, explosions, and refrain from actions undermining the global norm. Madam President, Malta also supports efforts towards the universalization of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. As TPNW gender focal point, Malta has organized several events addressing issues, including the disproportionate effects of nuclear testing on women and girls. We believe it is vital to keep the voices of affected communities at the center of our discussions. Nuclear testing is not simply a matter of military capability, it deeply affects communities, identities, and the relationship between it and the environment. The International Day Against Nuclear Test must therefore be both a commemoration and a call to action. Let us honor victims and affected communities by turning remembrance into action, advancing the entry into force of the CTBT, and ensuring that nuclear testing becomes a thing of the past for future generations. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Italy. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Maldives.

Thank you. Madam President, Italy aligns itself to the statements delivered by the European Union and the IAEA and would like to add some remarks in its national capacity. On its 30th anniversary, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty remains an integral and irreplaceable pillar of the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation architecture. By banning nuclear test explosions, the CTBT contributes in preventing the development of more sophisticated warheads and helps to reduce the risk of nuclear competition. The CTBT and the obligations it contains represent a concrete measure of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Italy believes that its immediate entry into force would significantly contribute in advancing our common goal of a world free of nuclear weapons, in line with Article 6 of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Progress towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons can only be achieved through a progressive, effective and verifiable approach. Italy signed the CTBT on the very first day it was open for signature and it has been a staunch supporter of its entry into force since the very beginning. We fully support the effort of the Secretary-General Robert Floyd for the universalization of the treaty, and we congratulate Tonga on its recent accession, thus bringing the total number of ratification to 179. However, 30 years on, the CTBT has not entered into force yet. Italy deplores the unprecedented decision by the Russian Federation to revoke its ratification of the treaty, which represents a serious step back in our universalization efforts. We call on all states to have not yet done so, particularly the remaining Annex II states, to sign and ratify the Treaty without delay. In the meantime, it is essential to maintain the long standing moratorium on nuclear weapons tests and other nuclear explosions and refrain from taking actions that contradict the Treaty's objective and purpose. Italy urges the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to refrain from further provocative actions and to take effective steps towards complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization. The DPRK must comply with all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, return to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and sign and ratify the CTBT without delay. As we gather here today, we should also bear in mind that our political support should also be translated into financial and technical measures. Italy is the seventh largest contributor to the CTBTO's regular budget and further supports the activities of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission through voluntary contributions. Italy also participates in the fundamental network of the CTBTO International Monitoring System with a seismological station in central Sicily and a laboratory for detection of radionuclides in Rome. The IMS forms the backbone of the CTBT verification regime, ensuring its efficiency and sustainability should remain our shared priority. I thank you, Madam President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Malta and Italy, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Maldives.

Madam President, for almost nine years, the world has heard no nuclear test explosions. That is the longest such period since the nuclear testing began. That is real progress. But 30 years after the CTBT opened for signature, that progress remains fragile. We have proved that nuclear testing can be stopped and we can succeed in doing that, but there is no guarantee that it cannot restart again. The Maldives ratified the CTBT in 2000 and is also a state party to TPNW. The Maldives position is very clear. Ending nuclear testing is essential step towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons. At the same time, the benefits of nuclear science should be directed towards peaceful purposes. Our recent membership of the IAEA reflects this commitment. Nuclear science should help treat diseases, strengthen food security and advance sustainable development. Progress in the peaceful uses of nuclear science must be matched by progress on disarmament. Yet the 2026 NPT review conference ended without consensus. The MoLD therefore calls for three specific actions. First, Annex II states must sign and ratify the CTBT without delay. Until the CTBT enters into force, all states must maintain the moratorium in nuclear test explosions. Second, we must protect and maintain CTBTO's international monitoring system. Its networking gives states the confidence that testing cannot be hidden. Its data also supports tsunami warning and scientific research. Third, we must not forget those who still live with the consequences of past nuclear tests. Nuclear testing displaced communities and left generations living with radiation-linked illnesses and contaminated land, including across the Pacific atolls. Never again should people be treated as expendable in the name of weapons programmes. Thirty years after CTBT opened for signature, the world has shown that nuclear testing can indeed stop. We must now make that achievement permanent, universal and irreversible. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Maldives, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Tanzania aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of Burundi on behalf of the African group. I wish to make the following remarks in my national capacity. We join the global community in commemorating the International Day Against Nuclear Tests. Tanzania's foreign policy is firmly anchored in peace, active non-alignment, and human security. Guided by these fundamental principles, Tanzania remains a proud state party to the Pelindaba Treaty, which established Africa as a nuclear weapon-free zone and promotes the completion the complete prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons across our continent. To underscore our conviction that global security cannot rely on the doctrine of mutually assured destruction, Tanzania has also ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Furthermore, as rising geopolitical tensions and the modernization of nuclear arsenals demand urgent multilateral action, we call upon all remaining states to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty without delay. Madam President, true security is built on mutual trust, sustainable development, and unyielding respect for international law, and not on the threat of nuclear devastation. We urge the international community to redirect the immense resources currently poured into nuclear armaments towards poverty eradication, climate resilience, and realization of sustainable development goals, ensuring that no one is left behind. Madam President, Tanzania welcomes this high-level commemoration and reaffirms its steadfast commitment to achieving a world entirely free of nuclear testing and catastrophic horrors of nuclear weapons. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United Republic of Tanzania, and I now give the floor to the observer of the observer state of the Holy See.

Madam President, the International Day against Nuclear Tests serves as a stark reminder of the devastating legacy of nuclear testing and a renewal of the call for shared responsibility in protecting present and future generations from its enduring consequences. The effects of past testing persist, Indigenous peoples and other affected communities, particularly women, children, and children, continue to experience its physical, psychological, social, and environmental consequences. The suffering caused by nuclear testing should have reinforced the common conviction that peace cannot be preserved by developing ever more destructive weapons. However, today, renewed reliance on nuclear deterrence increasingly aggressive nuclear rhetoric, and attempts to question the longstanding international norm against nuclear testing risk undermining this conviction. As Pope Leo XIV states in Magnifica Humanitas, military arsenals are receiving renewed attention. In the past, recognition of the threat posed by weapons capable of destroying all of humanity had promoted paths towards detente and disarmament negotiations. Unfortunately, this approach has been left behind, and the evolution of nuclear arsenals, including the prospect of their tactical use, makes the use of such weapons seem less improbable." End of quote. Madam President, the Holy See therefore renews its appeal for the entry into force of the CTBT, In the meantime, it remains essential that the existing moratoria be observed. The Holy See also wishes to express its appreciation for the indispensable work of the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO. Through its international monitoring system and verification regime, it has demonstrated how science and technology can serve transparency and confidence building in favor of the common good. The prohibition of nuclear explosive testing is an essential component of the broader moral and legal imperative to ensure the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and to eliminate existing ones. In this regard, my delegation also reaffirms the Holy See's unwavering support for the NPT as well as the TPNW. Madam President, this International Day invites us to reflect on the ongoing consequences of nuclear tests and the importance of rejecting the logic of fear. It is essential to embrace the path of dialogue and disarmament to ensure a peace founded upon the dignity of every member of the human family. Thank you, Madam President.

I thank the observer of the observer state of the Holy See, and I now give the floor to the observer of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Madam President, distinguished delegates, it's an honor to commemorate the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, a day on which the international community reaffirms its collective resolve that the devastating consequences of nuclear testing must never again be inflicted upon anyone, anywhere. The Treaty of Tlatelolco stands as a testament to this conviction, Latin America and the Caribbean became the first densely populated region in the world to permanently renounce nuclear weapons and prohibit their testing, choosing cooperation, international law, and collective responsibility over nuclear deterrence. The region affirmed a principle that remains relevant today. Lasting security is built not on nuclear weapons, but on the rule of law, dialogue, and cooperation among nations. Nearly six decades on, the significance of that understanding has not diminished. The Treaty of Tlatelolco was more than the establishment of a nuclear weapon free zone. It laid out the foundations of a normative and institutional framework, a reference well beyond our hemisphere. Today, five nuclear weapon free zones cover vast areas of the world and encompass more than 100 states. Tlatelolco remind us that nuclear disarmament is not an abstract aspiration. It's a political choice, a legal commitment, and a responsibility to pass on to future generations. Distinguished delegates. The challenge before the international community is not one of legal architecture. The Treaty of Tlatelolco, the NPT, the CTBTO, the TPNW together constitute a reinforcing regime for disarmament and non-proliferation. What remains essential is the political result to fully implement, universalize, and strengthen these instruments. To honor the commitment is to defend the multilateral institution and trust with this agenda, upholding the role of nuclear weapons free zones and rejecting any reliance on nuclear weapons as instruments of security, prestige, or strategic advantage, rather than recognizing them for what they are, an existential threat to humanity. OPANAL is equally convinced that the endurance of the global disarmament regime rests with the next generation. Finally, let this day serve as a reminder that the future of the world's nuclear disarmament regime.

Rests with the next generation.

I thank the distinguished observer of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean. We have heard the last speaker in this commemorative meeting. The exercise of the right of reply has been requested as announced in the president's letters dated 6 January and 20 May 2026. I propose that the time limits for the statements in the exercise of the right to reply under this item be limited to five minutes for the first intervention and to three minutes for the second intervention. Is there any objection to this proposal? I hear none. It is so decided. Accordingly, pursuant to Rule 72 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, when a representative exceeds her or his allotted time, the President shall call the speaker to order without delay, which will be done by means of automatic microphone cut off. To assist delegations in managing their time, a countdown clock will be displayed on the screens. Members are also reminded that statements in the exercise of the right to reply should be made by delegations from their seats. I now call on the representative of Israel.

Thank you, Madam President. Despite our hope that today's meeting would remain focused on the serious challenges before us, we are regrettably compelled to respond to the unfounded and absurd statement made by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran has no credibility to lecture others on nuclear threats, or any threats for that matter. For decades, the Iranian regime has employed suspicion to conceal its intentions, failing to meet its non-proliferation obligation in the relevant international disarmament frameworks. At the same time, it has continued to expand its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, fueling instability, chaos, and terrorism across the region. For years, Iran has pursued military capabilities that constitutes an existential threat to Israel, openly calling for Israel's destruction and providing extensive support to terrorist organizations and armed proxies across the region. It was in that context that Israel, together with the United States Operation Epic Fury, launched Operation Roaring Lion on February 28 this year. The operation was aimed at degrading the Iranian regime's nuclear, ballistic missiles, and military capabilities, and addressing the threat that Iran poses to the region and the world. Since Iran proved that early fears were justified, the Iranian regime launched barrage of ballistic missiles and UAVs against Israel and almost every other country in the region, deliberately putting millions of civilians at risk. Iran targeted its lethal weapons at densely populated areas, deliberately targeting civilians infrastructures, including in many countries represented in this hall. President, Iran has shown its true colors. Its aggression extends well beyond Israel's border, and it's merciless. attacking merchant vessels and disrupting maritime traffic and global food security, threatening regional stability and global energy markets and seeking to undermine freedom of navigation. All our policies Iran truly believes in, not the hollow statements it delivers in the UN. But not less important, let us not forget the lethal methods and brutality this regime uses against the Iranian people, a population which openly and rightfully seeks liberty and justice. In January, the regime murdered thousands of Iranians who demanded nothing but a shift in the country's priorities. They requested for the nation's resources to be devoted to improving people's lives rather than for terrorizing the Iranian people as well as others in the Middle East. Israel's military operations against Iran have focused on stopping Iran from its declared aim to destroy Israel and spread horror, fear, and suffering in the Middle East and beyond. We take extensive measures in order to reduce the risk to civilians, consisted with the law of armed conflict. Madam President, Israel will continue to defend its people and its territory against the Iranian regime and the terrorist organization it sponsors and support. And we will certainly not accept lectures on peace, international law, or non-proliferation from a regime that has spent decades undermining the very principles it now invokes. I thank you, Madam President.

I call on the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Thank you, Madam President. My delegation categorically rejects the baseless, absurd and politically motivated accusation made by the representative of the Israeli regime. Once again, We have witnessed a desperate attempt by the Israeli regime to distort facts through disinformation and misleading narratives. Such statements cannot change reality or absolve those responsible for accountability. The representative of the Israeli regime seeks to invert the facts by portraying the aggressor as the victim and the victim as the aggressor. The international community is fully aware of what has occurred and cannot be misled by such narratives. Concerning that, considering that the Israeli terrorists and apartheid regime has gone so far as to weaponize even food and water against innocent civilians in Gaza, I cannot refrain from saying how utterly ridiculous it is to hear its representatives claim that they act in accordance with international law. In light of the well-documented facts, I believe the only people who could possibly accept such a claim are the representatives of the regime themselves. After all the atrocities committed by the Israeli regime in our region over the past seven decades, particularly during the past three years, it is deeply ironic that its representatives continue to lecture others on compliance with international law and norms. Madam President, Nothing could be more outrageous than hearing the Israeli regime, which together with the United States launched unlawful attacks against Iran and its safeguarded peaceful nuclear facilities, attempt to portray Iran's peaceful nuclear program as a source of concern. Delegations can judge for themselves what should truly be the outmost concern of the international community. Iran's peaceful nuclear program, which remains subject to one of the most extensive IAEA verification regimes in the world, or the unlawful military attacks carried out by the Israeli regime and the United States against safeguarded peaceful nuclear facilities. The Israeli regime is the only possessor of nuclear weapons in the Middle East, the only entity in the region that remains outside the NPT. and the principal obstacle to the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other WMDs. We have heard all the rosy stories presented by the representative of the Israeli regime about its so-called Operation Roaring Lion. They are nothing more than propaganda and bear little resemblance to the realities on the ground. No amount of rosy stories can change the facts or conceal the unlawful nature and failure of the attacks carried out against Iran and its peaceful nuclear facilities. Madam President, the Israeli regime has consistently sought to mislabel legitimate resistance movements in the region as the terrorists and proxies. Let us be clear. According to United Nations General Assembly resolution, 46/51, these groups are legitimate resistance movements fighting against occupation, apartheid, aggression, and genocide in Palestine and other occupied territories. International law explicitly recognizes the right of peoples to resist foreign occupation and defend themselves against aggression. The real terrorists are those who bomb hospitals and schools, massacre civilians, and violate international law with impunity. Finally, I would also like to response to one point raised in her intervention. Nothing is more astonishing that hearing the representative of the Israeli regime speak about the Iranian people and the protection of civilians. The people of Iran don't need crocodile tears from those responsible for the deaths of thousands of Iranians, including the 168 schoolgirls killed in an attack on an elementary school in Minab. the assassination of our senior officials, and the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure across my country. Those responsible for such atrocities are in no position to lecture others on international law. I thank you, Madam President.

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 99? It is so decided. The meeting is adjourned.