In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

I have the great pleasure to address this Conference which has the mandate to review illicit
proliferation of SALW in active conflict and non-conflict zones.
The illicit proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons ranks among today’s
most pressing security threats. Tens of thousands of people are killed or wounded each year
in conflicts that are fought primarily with these weapons and in crime-ridden areas outside of
conflict zones. They are also the weapons of choice for many terrorists. The circumstances
of gun violence vary so enormously, it would be simplistic to suggest a single solution. A
comprehensive approach, reflecting the multi-faceted nature of the problem, is needed to
bring down the grim toll of global death and injury. Nonetheless, the high school massacres
in the US, the armed gangs in Brazil or the systematic sexual violence in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo all share a common denominator: the availability of guns or small
arms.

The continuation of internal strife, the spread of insecurity and the increase in drug trafficking
have rendered the international measures less effective in preventing and combating the
existing trend of illicit trade in small arms and light weapons . On the other hand, it is clear
that the overproduction and supply of these weapons facilitates their entry into regions of
tension. It is necessary that major arms producers undertake a more serious commitment in
this respect . More efficient mechanisms are required to end regional conflicts and to build
peace in the post-conflict situations . The Islamic Republic of Iran which has suffered greatly
from illicit weapons, drug trafficking, organized crime and terrorism has made significant
progress in implementation of the Programme of Action. And, we have done that despite
many problems and constraints imposed on Iran for many years . As a result and since the
adoption of the Programme of Action in 2001, the Islamic Republic of Iran has put in place a
range of schemes and concerted measures at national, regional and international levels to
follow up and fulfil its obligations under the Programme of Action . They include:
1 . A comprehensive and revised set of regulations for effective control over transfer
of arms and preventing illicit trade in small arms and light weapons ;
2. Strengthening the relevant national laws and regulations banning and punishing
the smuggling and illicit trafficking of any kind of weapons and ammunitions;
3. Founding of a Central Commission for monitoring non-military arms and
ammunitions;
4. Public educational campaign to raise public awareness about the dangers
associated with illicit weapons and encouraging the delivery of such weapons to the
authorised officials .
5. Strengthening border control measures to prevent transfer of illicit arms into Iran.
A notorious terrorist group, which was long supported and sheltered by the regime of
Saddam Hussein and ironically continues to enjoy the protection of foreign forces in Iraq ,
has carried out, during this period of time, more than 612 acts of blind terrorism against
innocent civilians and officials in Iran, using different kinds of small arms and light weapons,
which they received from foreign sources .
Iran has always been targeted by foreign powers even Iran being in support of complete
diplomacy and dialogue. We have had multiple successful assassinations on our prominent
figures and also many attempted assassinations on nuclear scietists. We are not only
managing the issue of non-state actors, but are also protecting the middle eastern
neighbourhood. Despite all the difficulties faced by Iran, we always strive towards a probable
diplomatic outcome, if possible.

Iran’s proposition towards the situation at hand and following concerns regarding the same;
● For reducing the existing State stockpile. The best place to start is with government
arsenals, which by nature are easier to identify, track and affect. But the problem is
the lack of government arsenals and existence of abundant small arms arsenals
under private sectors, which are comparatively difficult to track, keep a record and
maintain.
● Therefore, states should increase government intervention and decrease heavy
dependency on private government contractors and suppliers.
● Since the illegal arms market is supplied (intentionally or otherwise) by the legal arms
industry, the key to reducing the former is to exert stronger control over the latter, to
prevent legal weapons from crossing over into the illegal domain. So we should be
more focused towards the excess supply of arms and ammunition by states.
● An estimated 75% of small arms are in civilian hands. Part of this huge private
arsenal consists of illegal guns (in the hands of people not entitled to possess them)
and part consists of legal or semi-legal (grey) guns. Therefore, countries like the
USA, must make their gun laws and policies strict. And curb American Gun Shows
and open sales.
● It is true that a country's security is its own to maintain, and every state has the right
to use every possible resource to maintain internal and external security. But
delegates, we cannot use that as an excuse for surplus arms imports and exports.
Governments have some practical, prosaic reasons for acquiring small arms; but
remember that nearly 40 per cent of guns in their arsenals are surplus. This suggests
 that government buying habits are driven by ideological, political or commercial
factors not tied to actual security needs.
Preventing the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons is our goal today in our meeting .
However, fighting proliferation of weapons of mass destruction will always remain our greater
goal. The Islamic republic of Iran as the most recent victim of the use of chemical weapon
and terrorism, the two main threats the world faces today, will spare no effort to promote
international peace and security on the basis of justice and free from any and all
discriminatory and doublestandard considerations .