Ambassador Mike Waltz
U.S. Representative to the United Nations
New York, New York
AS DELIVERED
Thank you, Mr. President. I take the floor today, colleagues, after just speaking out against one oppressive regime, the Cuban regime, and now I get to address another brutal dictatorship that shamelessly massacred 40,000 of its own citizens just this year, with this Council and the entire world watching.
Well, that was until the regime instituted an internet blackout to hide its atrocities.
You all have heard a lot of discussion about attacks on civilian infrastructure. Of course, what you didn’t hear was the Iranian regime hitting hotels and restaurants and tourist sites and civilian neighborhoods, airports, civilian shipping across the Middle East.
In fact, sir, the representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain is right here. Do you want to apologize to him for attacking his country?
I’ll take that as a no.
Colleagues, we’ve heard tired allegations against the United States. What we have not heard today is an explanation for Iran’s continued failure to satisfy its safeguards obligations, as laid out before this Council. And it’s important to note these obligations are not contingent on the conduct of any other country. Can’t blame others. Nor can they be suspended or paused or ignored until Tehran secures some type of agreement on its terms.
So, the Iranian representative can continue to direct accusations at other countries, but those accusations cannot substitute for the access, for the data, for the information, and the cooperation that the IAEA and this Council, through resolutions have repeatedly requested.
Today, the IAEA the Director General Rafael Grossi is right here in this room. Asked Iran for answers not speeches. We are here today because Iran was referred to this Council by the IAEA.
So, my suggestion to the Iranian representative—and maybe start by providing some answers—but sir, look, your lies are no good here. You can argue about agenda items, you can argue about logistics, or who gets to speak or not speak. But the hard truth is this, and the world needs to hear it. The United States and our partners will never let you obtain a nuclear weapon to terrorize the world. Period. End of story.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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