UN Authority Figures

UN General Assembly First Committee on Disarmament and International Security Rapporteur: Iran

The Arak IR-40 heavy water reactor in Iran. Photo: Nanking2012/Wikimedia Commons.
"Iran has stated that its IR-40 heavy water reactor, located near the city of Arak, will begin operating in 2014...The reactor poses a notable proliferation threat because it can produce significant amounts of weapons-grade plutonium." (Source: Update on the Arak Reactor, July 15, 2013, Institute for Science and International Security )

Mission of the First Committee on Disarmament and International Security of the General Assembly: "The Disarmament and International Security Committee deals with disarmament and related international security questions." (General Assembly - Disarmament and International Security web-site, "First Committee")

Term of office: 2013-2014

Iran's Record on Disarmament and International Security:
"To designate a country as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, the Secretary of State must determine that the government of such country has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism." [Iran designated in 1984] "Iran increased its terrorist-related activity, including attacks or attempted attacks in India, Thailand, Georgia, and Kenya. Iran provided financial, material, and logistical support for terrorist and militant groups in the Middle East and Central Asia. Iran used the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and militant groups to implement foreign policy goals, provide cover for intelligence operations, and stir up instability in the Middle East...Regarding Syria, Iran provided extensive support, including weapons, funds, and training to assist the Asad regime in its brutal crackdown that has resulted in the death of more than 70,000 civilians. Iran provided weapons, training, and funding to Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups, including the Palestine Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command. Since the end of the 2006 Israeli-Hizballah conflict, Iran has assisted in rearming Hizballah, in direct violation of UNSCR 1701. Iran has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in support of Hizballah in Lebanon and has trained thousands of Hizballah fighters at camps in Iran...Iran remains a state of proliferation concern. Despite multiple UNSCRs requiring Iran to suspend its sensitive nuclear proliferation activities, Iran continues to violate its international obligations regarding its nuclear program." (State Sponsors of Terror, May 30, 2013, U.S. State Department)