Iran Urges Respect for UN Charter As Russia Annexes New Regions

Asked on Monday about Russia’s decision about the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions of Ukraine following referendums in the four regions, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said, “As always and based upon its principled stances, the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes the need for the full observance of the principle of territorial integrity of states as a fundamental rule of the international law and respect for the principles and goals of the United Nations Charter.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that any provocative move that may obstruct the path to peace, stability and calm must be avoided,” Kanaani added.

He also regretted that the flames of war in Ukraine, which have been ignited by the provocative moves by NATO and spearheaded by the US, continue to burn.

“The efforts made to de-escalate the tensions and fighting have not produced any result because of the measures from certain involved parties that pursue their interests in the continuation of crisis and tensions,” he said. 

“The Islamic Republic of Iran supports any effort at the peaceful settlement of the Ukraine conflict and has always expressed its readiness to help and contribute to this process,” the spokesman added.

On September 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin proclaimed the annexation of four Ukrainian regions at a signing ceremony in the Kremlin.

At the ceremony, Putin said Russia has “four new regions”, calling the residents of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions “our citizens forever”.

The signing ceremony came three days after the completion of referendums in the four regions, which are largely or partly controlled by Russian or Russian-backed forces.

Shortly after the ceremony, Russia vetoed a UN resolution that would have declared its referendums as having “no validity” and urged all countries not to recognize any “purported annexation” of the territory by Moscow.