Identical letters dated 30 April 2008 from the Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council


	Upon instructions from my Government, I wish to draw your attention to the interview on the ABC news channel on 22 April 2008, in which the United States Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton unwarrantedly and under erroneous and false pretexts threatened to use force against the Islamic Republic of Iran by stating: “I want the Iranians to know that if I’m the President we will attack Iran … [and will] totally obliterate them”.
	The Islamic Republic of Iran expresses its deep concern over, and strong condemnation of, such a provocative, unwarranted and irresponsible statement against the Iranian nation and civilization. Such a statement is in flagrant violation of the most fundamental provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the basic principles of international law, and is against the global efforts to strengthen regional and international peace and security.
	Iran is a leading nation in rejecting and opposing all kinds of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons. As a State party to the Treaty on the NonProliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Islamic Republic of Iran has on many occasions, including in relevant international forums, officially declared that nuclear weapons as the most lethal and inhumane weapons have no place in the defence doctrine of the country. Furthermore, since 1974 Iran has spared no efforts in the realization of the nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East within the United Nations framework and the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conferences.
	Moreover, I wish to reiterate my Government’s position that the Islamic Republic of Iran has no intention to attack any other nations. Nonetheless, in accordance with its inherent right under Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, Iran would not hesitate to act in self-defence to respond to any attack against the Iranian nation and to take appropriate defensive measures to protect itself.
	I should be grateful if you would have this letter circulated as a document of the Security Council.


(Signed) Mehdi Danesh-Yazdi
Ambassador
Chargé d’affaires a.i.









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 United Nations
S/2008/288
 
 Security Council
Distr.: General
1 May 2008

Original: English


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