بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم Your Excellences, Distinguished Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, At the outset, I would like to extend my warm greetings and express my sincere appreciation and respect to all distinguished participants. I am pleased that this international meeting has provided a valuable opportunity to exchange views on regional developments and explore avenues for enhancing cooperation among countries in the region and relevant international organizations. In this regard, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for organizing and facilitating this important meeting. As you are well aware, the Islamic Republic of Iran enjoys special significance due to its strategic geographical location and its position at the junction connecting Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the Caucasus. Concurrently, our country's law enforcement agencies bear heavy responsibilities in safeguarding borders, confronting international drug trafficking and transit networks, and ensuring regional security. Naturally, combating drug trafficking and transit-in line with the general policies of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran-has been one of the most vital duties of our law enforcement agencies in establishing regional stability and security. This duty has been actively pursued and realized based on the principle of shared responsibility over the past four decades. The average annual seizure of approximately 730 tons of different types of narcotic drugs over the past decade by the Anti-Narcotics Police (ANP) of the I.R. Iran, along with the sacrifice of nearly 4,000 martyrs and over 12,000 disabled veterans in the sacred campaign against illicit drugs, bear testament to the resolve and determination of the I.R. Iran in combating the menacing phenomenon of narcotic drugs. We believe that the issue of stability in the countries of the region is not merely a political matter; rather, it directly correlates with border security, controlling the flow of narcotics, and confronting transnational organized crime across the entire region, and will ultimately affect the development of neighboring countries and the region. Therefore, the strategy of this meeting in combating illicit drugs must be based on the continuation of dialogue and the expansion of sustainable regional and international cooperation. Combating drugs and organized crime requires continuous and responsible cooperation among neighboring countries, regional and international organizations based on the principle of mutual trust, as no country can separately address transnational challenges in the fight against narcotic drugs in a sustainable manner. The entry of shipments of methamphetamine (ICE) by armed convoys into our country and the seizure of these shipments during armed clashes indicate the increasing volume of such substances and the audacity of drug networks in confronting law enforcement forces. This trend has been rising over the past few years, pointing to an increase in the manufacturing of synthetic methamphetamine in the region. As you well know, sustainable security will be achieved through cooperation, not confrontation and creating divisions among regional and transregional countries. The Middle East region possesses immense potentials for development, health, and security, which must serve the shared interest of its nations, which is security. Therefore, the I.R. Iran declares its readiness to strengthen bilateral or multilateral regional cooperation with neighboring countries. We believe that regional countries, more than any other actor, are affected by the consequences of instability and insecurity, and must play a more effective role in planning and implementing regional solutions to combat drugs as a manifestation of insecurity. Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, The Anti-Narcotics Law Enforcement Agencies in the I.R. Iran stand alone in the fight against drugs, despite their ceaseless efforts and their commitment to humanity. For more than five decades since the glorious victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the fight against drugs has been one of the most important duties of the law enforcement agencies in the country. Therefore, it is expected that the international community and organizations, based on the principle of shared responsibility in the fight against drugs, pay their share in proportion to the performance of countries. Unfortunately, I must also point out that during the recent imposed war of the enemies of the I.R. Iran against our country's territorial integrity, more than 10 strategic Anti- Narcotics units were attacked by the enemy. Nevertheless, today more than ever, we need confidence-building, dialogue, and a common view for the future of regional security. Geographical borders should not be barriers to cooperation; rather, they can be transformed into bridges connecting law enforcement agencies. My country, Iran, due to its geographical location and long-standing ties with the countries of the region, has itself been part of regional solutions, and we believe that the future of the region must be built on cooperation, mutual respect, and the common interests of nations. The common interest of the countries participating in this meeting lies in expanding law enforcement cooperation, focusing on strengthening intelligence and operational capabilities, exchanging information, and conducting operations against active drug networks, and generally, combating the devastating phenomenon of illicit drugs, which, if realized, can guarantee the health and safety of our societies. Certainly, this guarantee depends on adopting a decisive approach based on national and international laws, a firm resolve, and a responsible will among neighboring countries as well as the support by international organizations. Dear colleagues more than ever, we need to block drug trafficking routes, strengthen police cooperation, and establish joint networks for combating illicit drugs. The shared borders of countries should not be passages of insecurity and trafficking, but rather should be transformed into shared defense lines against organized crime and narcotic drugs. In conclusion, I hope that such meetings can pave the way for greater understanding, operational cooperation, and taking more effective steps toward combating illicit drugs, thereby reinforcing border security and countering organized crimes across the region. Thanks for your kind attention