بسم هللا الرحمن الرحیم
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Most Merciful
Statement by H.E. Mr. Vahid Jalalzadeh, the Deputy Foreign Minister of
the Islamic Republic of Iran
before the Signing Ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime
25–26 October 2025- Hanoi

Your Excellencies,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I wish to extend our sincere gratitude to the Government and people of Viet Nam for their warm and gracious hospitality and excellent arrangements in hosting this historic signing ceremony of the UN Convention against Cybercrime in the beautiful and culturally rich city of Hanoi. I also express our appreciation to the UN secretariat for their invaluable support in facilitating this process.

The rapid advancement and spread of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have created vast opportunities for innovation and global connectivity. However, they have also facilitated the emergence of cybercrime, allowing perpetrators to act quickly and with impunity. These crimes threaten national sovereignty,
security, economies, civil infrastructures, and individual privacy worldwide. Therefore, robust international cooperation is essential. The United Nations Convention on Cybercrime is a key milestone in creating a global framework to combat cybercrime and strengthen collaboration among nations.

The Islamic Republic of Iran actively engaged in the process of elaboration of the Convention against Cybercrime in good faith, contributed to the discussions thereof as well as to the provisions of the Convention while aspiring to provide the international community with a sound and robust international legal framework to counter crimes
committed via ICTs, to bring criminals to justice and to protect our children, public morals and society in the face of the exponentially growing criminal activities via misuse of ICT.

Distinguished Delegates,

The United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, represents an important milestone for multilateralism and international cooperation for countering the use of ICTs for criminal purposes. Although Member States proved through their votes on amendments introduced by my delegation in the last concluding meeting of the Ad hoc Committee that highly divergent views still exist on certain provisions of the text irrespective of their
inclusion on the draft Convention, nevertheless the very adoption of the Convention is of immense utility importance for a collective flight against various forms of the use of ICT for criminal purposes through international cooperation.

Effective implementation of the purpose of the Convention which is, inter alia, to facilitate and strengthen international cooperation in preventing and combating cybercrime, necessitate having due regard to the challenges and impediments that hinder international cooperation and ability of states in fighting these crimes. The promulgation and application of unilateral coercive measures (UCMs) continue to impede international
cooperation and capabilities of affected states in countering the crimes in question. Such unlawful measures, which are flagrant violation of the fundamental principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, should be duly addressed and responded to so as to ensure that the important purposes of the Convention are effectively implemented.

We underline that the provision of technical assistance and capacity building to developing countries should be based on their needs and priority in fighting the use of ICT for criminal purposes; along the same line, we underscore enhancing the ability of developing countries to benefit from science, technology and innovation and address the
major impediments to accessing new and emerging technologies. In this respect, the inclusion of transfer of technology in the Convention is an important step to bridge digital divide among countries and to address barriers that developing countries face in accessing technology and to respond more effectively to crimes committed via ICTs. We must ensure that all nations, regardless of their level of development, have the tools, knowledge, technical assistance and resources to combat cybercrime.

Distinguished Delegates,

One of the most alarming and pervasive issues we face today is heinous crimes of child online sexual exploitation and abuse, facilitated by the misuse of various digital platforms and tools. A zero-tolerance policy should be adopted in combating child sexual exploitation online and dissemination of other obscene materials.

We strongly oppose any sort of exception or loophole in fighting child online sexual exploitation and abuse as there is no difference on the negative impact of unreal materials depicting child sexual exploitation. Such materials normalize criminal contacts against children and is conducive to the commission of child sexual exploitation.

Therefore, the artificial distinction between real and unreal material including animation and cartoons is
not in line with relevant definition stipulated in the optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We reaffirm our principled position that child sexual exploitation should be prohibited in all its forms and manifestations. Therefore, article 14 of the Convention should not be interpreted in a manner to exclude various materials including those generated by artificial intelligence, animation, etc. depicting, describing, or representing children.

We reaffirm the importance of respecting domestic laws that prohibit sharing intimate or obscene images, regardless of consent, to protect public order. This ensures legal clarity and supports effective crime prevention. The Convention does not and could not affect domestic laws and regulations of the Islamic Republic of Iran including in this area.

Distinguished Delegates,

It is noteworthy that nothing in this Convention could be interpreted as to prejudice domestic legal framework, values, religious, social and cultural specifications nor prejudice against the exercise of sovereign rights and prerogatives of my country in accordance with its domestic laws. Successful implementation of Convention requires full respect to sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.

The Convention includes important provisions, notably Article 5 on protection of sovereignty. As we say in legal parlance, equals have no sovereignty over each other, which is bedrock of international law and relations. Thus, Convention ensure respect for Member States’ sovereignty and exclusive jurisdiction. We emphasize that measures against criminal use of ICT must comply with fundamental principles of sovereign equality, nonintervention, and territorial integrity, and the Convention should not be used to violate these cardinal principles.

Distinguished Delegates,

Signing this instrument today sends a unified message that the international community will not allow cyberspace to become a lawless domain. Our decision to sign this Convention today underscores our firm commitment to contributing to a secure, stable, and peaceful digital environment for all. Let us leave Hanoi not only with a signed treaty, but with a renewed sense of shared purpose. Let us transform the words of this Convention into concrete actions for a safer world through effective international cooperation.

I Thank You