Iran Statement at 66th Working Group B of CTBTO
Statement by the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the 66th Session of the Working Group B of the CTBTO in Vienna
Statement by
the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran
at the 66th Session of the Working Group B of the CTBTO
Vienna, 09 – 19 March 2026
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Mr. Chairman,
At the outset, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to you H.E. Dr. Erlan Batyrbekov, as the Chairperson of the Working Group. I assure you of my delegation’s full support and cooperation during this session. I would also like to express my gratitude to Dr. Robert Floyd, the Executive Secretary, for his efforts and opening remarks, as well as to the dedicated staff of the Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) for their work in preparing for this session.
The Islamic Republic of Iran aligns itself with the statement delivered by the distinguished Ambassador of Indonesia on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. Additionally, I would like to make the following remarks in my national capacity.
Mr. Chairman,
On 28 February 2026, and for the second time in less than nine months, the US and the Zionist regime launched yet another aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran by the United States and Israel regimes are illegal, unprovoked and unjustifiable. These attacks are indiscriminately targeting Iranian civil targets, hospitals and residential areas. In just one single case, they attacked girl’s primary school in Minab city, when packed with young pupils, took the lives of 181 innocent schoolgirls and left more than 100 wounded. They did it deliberately, massively and brutally. This is what they shamelessly call a “noble mission”! This is the “help” and “freedom” that the US President promised Iranians – freedom in the form of hellfire missiles!. These crimes constitute a gave violation of international law and international humanitarian law and must be strongly and unequivocally condemned by all.
Like the previous round, they targeted civilian infrastructure and objects, from peaceful safeguarded nuclear facilities to sports complexes, residential areas, hospitals, schools and the like.
All their justifications for waging their aggression against Iran in 2025 and 2026 are founded on lies, deception and fabrication. Based on the false narrative of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, they martyred our Supreme Leader, who was the only Muslim scholar in contemporary history that issued a fatwa categorically prohibiting WMDs including nuclear weapons.
For the second time, again they invaded Iran amidst Iran-US diplomatic talks, and proved that, for them, diplomacy is a tool for deceiving others.
Their attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran are manifestly an act of aggression and are material breaches of peremptory norms of international law, particularly the prohibition of the threat or use of force.
Their aggression and crimes also constitute war crimes, crimes of aggression and crimes against humanity, and thus entail the international responsibility of the US and the Israeli regime, as well as the individual criminal responsibility of those who ordered, operated, and aided the commission of such crimes.
Mr. Chairman,
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) plays a pivotal and indispensable role in the global security architecture aimed at preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The Treaty prohibits all nuclear test explosions, thereby establishing a legally binding constraint on the development and modernization of nuclear arsenals. In doing so, it serves not merely as a technical instrument of arms control, but as a fundamental pillar in the broader pursuit of complete, verifiable, and irreversible nuclear disarmament.
The persistence of rivalries in strategic arms, the ongoing reliance on nuclear forces, and the evident reluctance of certain nuclear-weapon States to fulfill their disarmament obligations under international law, particularly the NPT, collectively undermine the normative authority and practical effectiveness of the CTBT.
Safeguarding the integrity and credibility of the CTBT demands renewed and unequivocal political commitment at the highest levels, strict adherence to its objectives and provisions, and tangible, time-bound measures to achieve its universalization and prompt entry into force. Without such concerted action, the international community is at risk of weakening one of the most critical barriers against the further entrenchment and normalization of nuclear weapons in security doctrines.
The CTBT must be preserved and advanced in accordance with its main mandate as a genuine disarmament instrument, and must not be diminished, or selectively interpreted, as a mere non-proliferation instrument serving the strategic interests of certain Nuclear-Weapon States. Limiting the Treaty to a narrow non-proliferation function would compromise its foundational objective and undermine its integral role within the broader context of nuclear disarmament.
Mr. Chairman,
The delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran expresses its profound concern over recent statements and actions by a certain major power, which flagrantly disregard established international principles and norms. The call to resume nuclear testing, coupled with unsubstantiated accusations against other States, represents a revival of outdated, the Cold War policies in which force, rhetoric, and unilateralism take precedence over multilateralism, global security, and decades of painstaking human effort to prevent the scourge of nuclear war.
Such behavior not only undermines the hard-earned prohibitions against the threat or use of force enshrined in the United Nations Charter, but also sets a dangerous precedent, eroding the integrity and credibility of key international instruments, including the CTBT. The pursuit of these policies, whether by words or deeds, threatens to normalize coercion and unilateral decision-making, thereby imperiling the international law that humanity has built over generations. In this vein, public statements regarding the resumption of nuclear testing not only undermine the credibility and normative authority of the CTBT but also jeopardize the global norm against nuclear test explosions, diminishing confidence in the permanence and universality of the testing moratorium. Furthermore, such statements pose a serious risk to the institutional standing and verification mandate of the CTBTO, whose legitimacy is heavily reliant on sustained political support for the Treaty’s goals.
The international community cannot remain passive in the face of such recklessness. Failure to confront these provocations risks a future where governance based on international principles is replaced by a world of individual power politics, escalating instability, and heightened risk of nuclear confrontation. It is imperative that all States, and in particular nuclear-armed States, reaffirm their commitment to established legal obligations, uphold the universality of disarmament, and reject the revival of policies rooted in threat, intimidation, and unilateral advantage.
Mr. Chairman,
The manifestation of the revival of policies based on threats, intimidation, and unilateral interests has been reflected in the bolder actions of the Israeli regime as the sole possessor of nuclear weapons in the Middle East. In this regard, it is a matter of serious concern that the Israeli regime continues to reject accession to both the NPT and the CTBT, and systematically obstructs all efforts toward transparency and accountability. Nevertheless, it is allowed to participate in international disarmament processes without fulfilling even the most basic legal obligations. This contradiction seriously undermines the credibility and integrity of the global non-proliferation architecture.
The Islamic Republic of Iran calls upon the international community to take urgent and concrete measures to compel the Israeli regime to join the NPT and CTBT without further delay, in order to restore trust, ensure accountability, and uphold the principle of universality that is crucial for the legitimacy and credibility of multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation instruments.
Mr. Chairman,
We remind that in the preamble of the CTBT, it is stated: "With the ultimate goal of eliminating these weapons and achieving general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, emphasis is placed on systematic and gradual efforts to reduce nuclear weapons globally." It is therefore a matter of profound concern and grave regret that, notwithstanding clear and binding international legal obligations requesting their complete, verifiable, and irreversible elimination, certain States continue not only to retain such weapons but also to further entrench and legitimize their role within national security doctrines and strategic postures. This troubling trajectory undermines decades of collective disarmament efforts, erodes the credibility of the global non-proliferation regime, and heightens the risk of miscalculation, escalation, and catastrophic humanitarian consequences.
Mr. Chairman,
My delegation underscores the paramount importance of sustained capacity-building activities, specialized training, and the meaningful transfer of technology to ensure that all States Signatories—particularly developing countries—are adequately equipped to participate effectively, independently, and on an equal footing in the Treaty’s verification regime. In this regard, we reiterate our call for increased, predictable, and assured funding for capacity-building initiatives through the regular budget, rather than ad hoc or voluntary arrangements, as such funding is essential to bridging existing technical gaps, strengthening national implementation capacities, and promoting equal access to verification-related knowledge, data, and infrastructure. The credibility, inclusivity, and long-term sustainability of the verification architecture—and indeed the legitimacy, universality, and overall effectiveness of the Treaty itself—depend upon the equitable distribution of technical expertise, institutional capabilities, advanced monitoring technologies, and balanced regional participation across all regions.
Mr. Chairman,
We are of the view that the conduct of the past background measurement has been a time-bound project and not a continuous forever system. In light of the lack of consensus on these systems, we look forward to finalizing direct and clear guidance for noble gas background characterization at the coming session of the Commission, and we urge the PTS to refrain from any projects or campaigns in this regard, and finishing the past projects until this matter is settled by States Signatories.
My delegation firmly believes that division, exclusion, and discrimination within the PTS will erode the collective achievements of the international community. In this vein, Iran strongly urges the full implementation of the principle of equitable geographical representation in the structures and decision-making bodies of the PTS. The continued imbalance between developing and developed countries within the PTS warrants careful attention and should be addressed to ensure equitable representation and balanced participation across all regions.
Mr. Chairman,
In conclusion, the Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the objectives of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and its role as a cornerstone of global nuclear disarmament. As we have emphasized, the CTBT is not merely a technical instrument but a vital pillar in the broader pursuit of complete, verifiable, and irreversible disarmament. The continued adherence to and universalization of this Treaty is essential for maintaining the integrity of global security and advancing the collective efforts to prevent the further proliferation of nuclear weapons.
We have expressed grave concern over the policies of certain states that undermine the authority of the CTBT, particularly through the revival of nuclear testing rhetoric and the perpetuation of coercive and unilateral actions. Such actions jeopardize not only the credibility of the Treaty but also the fragile framework of international peace and security. In this context, we call for a united effort to confront these provocations and to reaffirm commitment to the legal and moral obligations enshrined in the Treaty.
We also urge the international community to address the imbalance within the Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS), ensuring that all states, particularly developing countries, are equipped to fully participate in the Treaty’s verification regime. Equal and fair representation within the PTS is not just a matter of fairness, but a necessary condition for the long-term success and sustainability of the verification process.
The Islamic Republic of Iran remains committed to constructive engagement with all member states and stakeholders to ensure the success of this session and to contribute to the ongoing efforts towards global disarmament. It is through collective, coordinated action that we can secure a future free of nuclear weapons, a future in which all states participate on an equal footing and contribute to the advancement of peace and security for all.
Thank you. Mr. Chairman