During an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran on July 2-3, Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü reiterated the need to protect and strengthen the global norm against the use of chemical weapons and paid homage to the victims of worldwide chemical weapons use.
The Director-General held a series of meetings with senior Iranian government officials including Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Javad Zarif, Deputy Minister for Legal and International Affairs Seyed Abbas Aragchi, and Deputy Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran Ameer Saeed Iravani.
Üzümcü used the meeting to discuss the importance of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which recently surpassed its 20th anniversary. In a speech, the Director-General spoke on how “improving our ability to prepare for and respond to chemical weapons attacks must be matched with greater collaboration and a recommitment to the international norm against chemical weapons.”
Üzümcü also brought attention to recent incident of chemical weapons use in Syria. On June 30, the OPCW’s fact-finding mission confirmed the use of sarin gas in the Khan Shaykhun area, Idlib Province. The perpetrators of the attack were not identified by the OPCW report.
The Director-General concluded his visit by touring the Tehran Peace Museum where he spoke with victims of chemical weapons, who shared their stories of overcoming chemical weapons attacks and what they have done to rebuild their lives.
OPCW serves as the implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Entered into force in 1997, the convention represents the most-successful disarmament treaty in history targeting an entire class of weapons.
To date, approximately 95 percent of all chemical weapons stockpiles declares by OPCW’s 192 member states have been destroyed under the organization’s verification.