Speaking at the opening of an exhibition on Iranian women's achievements, held at Tehran’s permanent exhibition center with the attendance of Vice President for Women and Family Affairs and foreign diplomats, Gharibabadi criticized Western nations for their human rights policies.
He condemned West’s double standards, regarding the Israeli crimes in Gaza. “Those who claim to advocate human rights but supported Israel’s crimes can no longer accuse others of violations,” he stated.
Gharibabadi also criticized Western-backed sanctions against Iran, arguing that they jeopardize the rights and well-being of millions. “If they truly care about Iranians’ human rights, they should lift unilateral sanctions,” he added.
Reflecting on Iran’s post-revolution political system, he highlighted the country’s commitment to democratic governance, holding elections annually on average. He described Iran’s approach to human rights as rooted in religious and national principles, contrasting it with pre-revolutionary ties between Western nations and Iran’s former monarchy.
Addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Gharibabadi slammed Western countries for their hypocrisy. “More than 50,000 innocent people, mostly women and children, have been massacred, yet human rights organizations remained silent,” he said, blaming the US and Western allies for providing military support to Israel.
He dismissed Western attempts to impose their values on Iran, asserting that the country would not adopt a Western way of life. “If they truly valued human rights, we would not be witnessing such atrocities in Gaza,” he argued.
Gharibabadi further criticized Western nations for harboring groups responsible for terrorist attacks in Iran, which he said have killed over 23,000 civilians. He condemned the “politicization” of human rights, asserting that countries with favorable political relations with the West avoid scrutiny, while Iran faces persistent accusations.
“Iran is an independent nation with a 7,000-year civilization. It cannot be coerced into submission through threats and sanctions. Never!” he declared.
He also pointed to Iran’s social realities, challenging critics to acknowledge the country’s progress. “You are in Iran and can see the realities. You see women actively participating in society. Denying this would be unfair. Who should be our model in human rights? Western countries? The same countries that violate the rights of Iranians? If they genuinely cared about Iranian human rights, they would lift the sanctions,” he stated.
Gharibabadi emphasized that Iran remains strong despite economic pressures. “These so-called human rights defenders do not even uphold exemptions for food and medicine. But we are a great nation with vast capacities, and we are proud of our people. Based on national pride and effort, these threats and sanctions have no impact on the Islamic Republic of Iran. If any other country had endured just 10% of Iran’s sanctions, it would have collapsed by now,” he asserted.
He questioned why Iran continues to advance despite sanctions. “You, as diplomats, may wonder how Iran progresses daily under such immense economic and political pressure. Have you seen signs of regression? Yes, sanctions affect people's lives, but they will never achieve their objectives. If Western powers once claimed leadership in human rights, after Gaza, they can no longer make such claims. Global public opinion has awakened—you saw the mass protests, even in the US and Western countries, against their governments for supporting Israel. They can no longer hide behind slogans while accusing others of human rights violations,” he said.
Concluding his speech, Gharibabadi urged foreign diplomats to convey the “realities” of Iran to their respective governments, stressing that despite pressure, Iran continues to progress.
The event also featured remarks from Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, Behrouz Azar, who outlined key achievements of Iranian women. Following the speeches, diplomats toured various exhibition booths showcasing women's contributions in different sectors.