Statement by the Islamic Republic of Iran on the First Meeting of the Open-ended Intergovernmental Expert Group on Crimes that Affect the Environment   Item 3: Identification of any gaps that may exist in the international legal framework that could be addressed under the Organized Crime Convention to prevent and combat crimes that affect the environment falling within the scope of the Convention and related offences covered by the Convention   (30 June to 2 July 2025) In the name of God, the most Compassionate, the most merciful     Mr. Chair, The Islamic Republic of Iran emphasises that the UNTOC is an effective international instrument for addressing transnational organised crimes, including crimes that affect the environment. We are of the view that the Convention's provisions are comprehensive enough and have the potential to cover crimes that affect the environment. Therefore, the member States need to criminalise "crimes that affect the environment" in their domestic legal system and to ensure effective international cooperation on the prevention and combating of crimes that affect the environment. Against this backdrop, there are no legal gaps or lacuna in terms of instruments for combating crimes that affect the environment, so there is no need for any additional protocol on this kind of crime to the Convention. We are of the view that the implementation of the Convention’s provisions should be strengthened through effective measures and practical actions by Parties to address any gaps that may exist in the international legal framework on crimes that affect the environment. For example, this approach could obviate the potential complexities of different jurisdictions on the implementation of Article 15 of the Convention, which calls upon States to establish jurisdiction over Convention offences, inter alia, those related to crimes that affect the environment.     Mr. Chair, Effective enforcement of domestic laws concerning crimes that affect the environment requires specialised expertise and skills, including forensic science, and management and handling of hazardous materials. The Islamic Republic of Iran has observed that many law enforcement and judicial authorities face significant gaps in training and access to needed equipment for these important responsibilities. In this regard, Articles 6–8 of the Convention (on law enforcement and mutual legal assistance) should be fully utilised, which requires that competent authorities be designated and trained. The principles outlined in Articles 28–30 of the Convention, focusing on information exchange, training, and technical assistance, aim to address the identified gaps both at the time of the Convention's adoption and in subsequent periods. However, their implementation remains significantly uneven. For instance, Article 28 calls for consultation with scientific expertise concerning transnational organised crime and considering common definitions and evidence- based methods. However, practical cooperation mechanisms, such as databases, joint investigation teams or liaison networks, are often not in place or are under- resourced. We do believe that by reinforcing the implementation of Articles 28 to 30 by all Parties to the Convention, this gap will be filled, especially concerning crimes that affect the environment, including those with cross-border implications. In conclusion, the Islamic Republic of Iran stresses that preventing and fighting crimes affecting the environment requires urgent, effective action to close the abovementioned gaps for implementation of the Convention's provisions. We urge States Parties to strengthen implementation of existing legal instruments, including the UNTOC, by enhancing law enforcement capacity and providing technical assistance. Additionally, we call for the expert group’s recommendations to recognise and address the special challenges faced by developing countries, ensuring that no State is left without the means to tackle crimes that affect the environment.     Thank you.