First Committee, 17th plenary meeting - General Assembly, 80th session
Thematic discussion on specific subjects and introduction and consideration of all draft resolutions and decisions submitted under agenda items (from 90 to 106)
A/C.1/80/L.1, A/C.1/80/L.2, A/C.1/80/L.3, A/C.1/80/L.4, A/C.1/80/L.5, A/C.1/80/L.6, A/C.1/80/L.7, A/C.1/80/L.8, A/C.1/80/L.10, A/C.1/80/L.11, A/C.1/80/L.12, A/C.1/80/L.13, A/C.1/80/L.14, A/C.1/80/L.15, A/C.1/80/L.16, A/C.1/80/L.17, A/C.1/80/L.18, A/C.1/80/L.20, A/C.1/80/L.21, A/C.1/80/L.22, A/C.1/80/L.23, A/C.1/80/L.24, A/C.1/80/L.26, A/C.1/80/L.27, A/C.1/80/L.28, A/C.1/80/L.29, A/C.1/80/L.30, A/C.1/80/L.31, A/C.1/80/L.32, A/C.1/80/L.33, A/C.1/80/L.34, A/C.1/80/L.35, A/C.1/80/L.36, A/C.1/80/L.37, A/C.1/80/L.38, A/C.1/80/L.39, A/C.1/80/L.40, A/C.1/80/L.41, A/C.1/80/L.42, A/C.1/80/L.43, A/C.1/80/L.44, A/C.1/80/L.45, A/C.1/80/L.46, A/C.1/80/L.47, A/C.1/80/L.48, A/C.1/80/L.63
Rights of reply
3 replies by 3 delegations
🇷🇺 Russian Federation, 🇮🇱 Israel, 🇮🇷 Islamic Republic of Iran
🇷🇺 Russian FederationFirst reply
Mr. Chairman, once again we have to take the floor. Uh having to do with uh uh false insinuations we heard under this cluster and they had to do with the uh Russian activities in outer space and we reject the um baseless accusations about testing in twenty twenty-one. As we said, this was fully in line with international law, including the nineteen sixty-seven tree treaty, and was not aimed against any state taking to account for the test and the um orbit and the fragments uh um Of the inactive Russian space vehicle, they were not a threat nor were they an impediment for the functioning of orbital stations or space objects. The fragments were introduced into the main catalogue we have of the national control system and were immediately uh taken under accompanied until they ceased to exist. This was planned activity by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation that we conduct to ensure that we are defense capable and the prevention of sudden damage to our security on the ground and in space by space objects, by other states who are actively intent on deploying weapons in outer space and the use of outer space so as to conduct armed hostilities. I would like to point out here that these states are using um political declarative statements according to which we are not to test such vehicles. But they go over in silence over the following Are they going to use this kind of weapons or any other of satellite weapons? There are no commitments also on the manufacturing of those systems or the prospects of what they're going to do with the already existing space potential. As regards the veto imposed uh by the US uh uh having to do with the use of weapons of mass destruction in space, we have uh explained this many times. When I repeat this, the US-Japanese draft was uh not thought through and limited. We proposed that this include provisions on measures to keep um outer space free from any weapons, not just weapons of mass destruction, limiting and banning the use of force or the use of force in space in any way, shape, or form, and the need to develop as quickly as possible an international legally binding instrument on that. But our amendments of principle were completely ignored. In addition to that, the initiators of this document I'm referring to were trying to use the Security Council platform in order to push through new international commitments on outer space which go beyond the existing treaties and agreements, and first and foremost the outer treaty. The Outer Space Treaty in nineteen sixty-seven. This was in circumvention of uh specialized based agencies and without expertise. If this had passed, that would undermined the um authority of the Security Council, but also the forums such as of the First Committee, the Conference on Disarmament uh and the UN Committee on Outer Space, so as to rectify the situation, which pushed forward a draft resolution on preventing armed race in outer space, which is comprehensive in nature. We regret the fact that our constructive proposal was rejected, and yet another opportunity to ensure that we deal with the situation with the um goals of Paros was lost. This shows yet once again that some countries are trying to legitimize placing in uh outer space any other kind of space other than weapons of mass destruction. This will lead to an arms race. We remain committed to our commitments in outer space law, including under the 1967 Treaty, comprehensively including Article 4 of this space, prevention of armed race in outer space, and thus prevention c the outer space becoming an area of confrontation is for us a very high priority. We are ready to sit down tomorrow to work out a comprehensive international legal commitments on that. We much more so than
🇮🇱 IsraelFirst reply
Thank you, Chair. Following the Iranian statement, which was distorted and filled with lies, we are compelled to remind the room of the malign activities of the Iranian regime in outer space, which undermined UN Security Council resolutions, foster instability in the Middle East, and pose a great threat to international peace and security. Chair Iran's space program is anything but peaceful. The Iranian regime has been developing its ballistic missiles program under the guise of space launcher vehicles, themselves under the control of the IRGC and used for its military space program. We also condemn the abuse of international legal terminology, and in particular the Outer Space Treaty, in an attempt to obscure Iran's own deliberate violations of the most basic principles of international law. I thank you.
🇮🇷 Islamic Republic of IranFirst reply
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We categorically reject the baseless allegations made by the representative of the Israeli regime. It is both ironic and absurd that a regime with a long record of aggression, occupation, genocide. And violation of international law dares to lecture others on legal and technical matters. Once again, we strongly condemn the hostile and unlawful use of outer space by the Israeli regime during its act of aggression against my country in June 2025. Such actions endanger international peace and security and must not go unanswered. Those responsible must be held fully accountable. Mr. Chair, international law imposes no restriction on the peaceful scientific and technological activities of Iran or any other sovereign state in the field of space research and exploration. Iran's space program is entirely transparent, peaceful, and consistent with international law. Regarding our missile program, I must emphasize that it is a conventional and legitimate defensive capability. Our missiles are designed solely to deter acts of aggression. such as those committed by the Israeli regime in June 2025 and to safeguard our people and sovereignty. Any attempt to portray this as a threat is deceptive, politically motivated, and aimed at undermining Iran's inherent right to self defense under the UN Charter. Linking Iran's peaceful satellite launches to a ballistic missile development is yet another baseless pretext. An excuse to justify pressure, sanctions, and hostility toward my country. The Islamic Republic of Iran will continue to exercise its sovereign rights in accordance with international law, and no amount of distortion or intimidation will deter us from pursuing our peaceful scientific and technological progress. I thank you, Mr. Chair.
Verbatim from the transcript. A reply is identified from its own words, the Chair's grant, or its place in the right-of-reply sequence; delegations and addressees follow the transcript's attribution.
Speaking timeRussian Federation (6%) · Chair (5.4%) · United States (4.1%) + 44 more