Speaking at the Conference on Disarmament on Thursday, Ambassador Ali Bahraini addressed the growing dangers posed by Washington’s space policies.
He noted that the US push for dominance undermines the goal of keeping outer space exclusively peaceful and increases the likelihood of its militarization and weaponization.
The Iranian envoy pointed specifically to the development of offensive space capabilities by the United States, including the establishment of dedicated space forces and the framing of outer space as a new battlefield.
He argued that such unilateral moves could prompt other countries to develop countermeasures, thereby intensifying a dangerous cycle of competition in space armaments.
Furthermore, Bahraini called on the international community to condemn deliberate attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran’s civilian and scientific space-related infrastructure, saying such actions violate international law and undermine the legitimate right of all states to peaceful space exploration.
Commercial satellite systems, including those providing internet services, should not be used as cover for hostile actions or military support in aggressive operations against other countries, the ambassador added.
The Iranian representative called on the international community to launch negotiations without delay through the Conference on Disarmament, as the sole multilateral negotiating forum on the issue, with the aim of drafting a comprehensive, non-discriminatory, and legally binding treaty to prevent an arms race in outer space.
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