Mr. President, I have the honor to deliver this joint statement on behalf of a cross-regional group of Member States, namely the Republic of Belarus, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Cuba, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of Nicaragua, the Russian Federation, and my own country, the Islamic Republic of Iran. We express serious concern and categorical rejection of unilateral coercive measures (UCMs), especially those with extraterritorial application. These measures are illegitimate, unlawful and in contravention of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, and constitute a violation of international human rights law. They represent flagrant interference in the sovereign affairs of States, violate the principle of sovereign equality and undermine multilateralism and the principle of cooperation that underlies United Nations activities. Such measures are a characteristic feature of the so-called “rules-based international order” (RBIO) being imposed on the international community by a limited number of countries. These so-called “rules” are being invented and used to justify illegitimate measures against States that formulate their own policies in accordance with international law. The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime rests on cooperation among States. UCMs undermine this foundation by obstructing the ability of affected countries to implement the Convention and, where applicable, its Protocols, and to participate effectively in collective efforts to prevent and combat transnational organized crime. Their consequences extend beyond targeted countries, weakening international cooperation and the collective capacity to respond to criminal threats. Mr. President, UCMs, compounded by secondary sanctions and over-compliance by financial institutions, businesses and other stakeholders, systematically restrict and, in some cases, block access to financial services, essential equipment, relevant technologies, technical assistance and capacity-building. They obstruct cooperation among competent authorities, including mutual legal assistance, and hinder the implementation of national and regional programmes against transnational organized crime. These restrictions disproportionately affect countries, deepen capacity gaps and prevent affected States from adequately addressing serious criminal threats. The exclusion of affected countries from essential assistance and cooperation constitutes blatant discrimination. International cooperation and technical assistance should be provided upon request, in accordance with the needs and priorities of requesting States and without discrimination, and must not be politicized or obstructed by UCMs. Despite repeated calls by the international community for their urgent lifting, these unlawful measures continue to have devastating, and sometimes even life-threatening, consequences for countries and their peoples. They exacerbate humanitarian and economic challenges, threaten food, energy and financial security, and severely violate basic human rights. States that are adopting, imposing, maintaining or promulgating UCMs shall be held accountable for the tragic consequences of such illegal and illegitimate actions. We support the relevant positions of the Group of 77 and China, reflected in its Ministerial Declaration adopted in New York in September 2026, firmly rejecting unilateral coercive measures and calling for their immediate elimination. In this context, we underscore the importance of the upcoming International Day against Unilateral Coercive Measures, observed annually on 4 December and established by a UN General Assembly resolution last year. Mr. President, We call upon States to strongly condemn these destructive UCMs and the associated lack of accountability. We call upon States imposing or maintaining them to immediately, unconditionally and completely lift all such measures. We further call upon all States neither to recognize nor to apply these measures, and to take effective administrative or legislative measures to counteract their extraterritorial application or effects. We call upon Member States to strengthen effective and depoliticized international cooperation in criminal matters. We further request UNODC to furnish States parties with disaggregated and statistical reports on technical assistance and capacity-building projects, investments and services in different countries, as well as on impediments and barriers arising from UCMs that obstruct international cooperation in criminal matters and the delivery of assistance. Our shared commitment to combating transnational organized crime requires solidarity, sovereign equality and effective cooperation. The continued imposition of illegal and illegitimate UCMs undermines that commitment. Their immediate, unconditional and complete lifting is essential to strengthening implementation of the Convention and protecting the well-being of our peoples. Thank you, Mr. President.