Statement By the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran At the Second Meeting of the Open-ended Intergovernmental Expert Group on Crimes that Affect the Environment Vienna – 24 February 2026   Agenda Item 2: Stocktaking of the application and collective implementation of the United Nations Transnational Organised Crime Convention in addressing crimes that affect the environment falling within the scope of the Convention and related offences covered by the Convention   In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful Mr. Chairman, Frist, we are delighted to see you again chairing this important meeting and assure you of our full support. I also thank the Secretariat for convening this meeting and the panelists for their valuable insights. In previous meeting, the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran outlined the domestic measures undertaken to prevent and combat transnational organized crime that affect the environment. I will not revisit those points, but I stress that we take the preservation of environment including preventing and combatting crimes that affect the environment seriously. For us, and obviously for other developing countries, protecting the environment is inseparable from our social welfare and sustainable development. If unchecked, the degradation of the environment, and the crimes that affect it, would endanger ecosystems, undermine the rule of law, and distort economies. Indeed, our approach shall be in full conformity with international law particularly the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations, including the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity and non‑intervention in the internal affairs of States. Under international law, every State has, and shall freely exercise, full and permanent sovereignty over all its natural resources. Likewise, the responsibility of defining national policies and strategies to prevent and combat crimes that affect the environment, rests exclusively with the States. As a universal, flexible and legally binding framework, UNTOC can be applied— of course when its threshold criteria are fulfilled—to address crimes that affect the environment. As many of these offences are organized and transnational in nature, unilateral action is rarely sufficient. Therefore, the Convention’s cooperation tools are essential practical instruments that enable the Parties to work together to investigate, prosecute and disrupt these crimes. Given the scope and flexibility of UNTOC, our collective priority should be its effective implementation at the domestic level. This includes updating legislation so that relevant conduct is criminalized and sanctioned in line with UNTOC standards; strengthening inter‑agency coordination; enhancing specialized capabilities; and providing targeted training for law enforcement and judicial authorities. UNTOC’s implementation challenges are real. Limited awareness, competing priorities, technology and equipment gaps, and institutional and resource constraints—particularly acute for developing countries—prevent tangible progress. We underline the immediate need to and importance of addressing, tackling and effectively responding to international challenges and barriers, in particular measures, including unilateral coercive measures, that hinder international cooperation. In fact, adoption and application of such measures are material breaches of the United Nations Charter and other obligations of States under international law. Accordingly, and as called for by the General Assembly in its resolution 76/185, all States, consistent with their international obligations, must refrain from applying such measures. In discharging the mandate entrusted by the Conference of States Parties, the Expert Group must adopt a balanced, pragmatic and consensus-driven approach and prioritize the UNTOC’s balanced and effective implementation. The Group must therefore avoid premature steps that could broaden scopes or mandates in ways that lead to institutional overlap or fragmented responsibilities. The Group must also seriously avoid of making any recommendation that might result in duplication of relevant international instruments – as called for by the resolution of the Conference of States Parties as well as the UNGA resolution 80/227. Given the excessively complex nature and sensitivity of the mandate entrusted to the Group, it must discharge its mandate in an appropriate and pragmatic manner. Ultimately, all of us must be fully confident that the recommendations of the Group are the best possible measures that can and must be taken for the UNTOC’s balanced and effective implementation, particularly to enable the States Parties to appropriately and effectively respond to crimes that affect the environment. In conclusion, the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran stands ready to work actively and constructively with all interested delegations to enable the Group to discharge its mandate successfully. I thank you, Mr. chairman.