Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of Iran, addressed the inaugural session of the international conference on neutrality, held on 12 December 2025 in Ashgabat.
The conference was the flagship event, marking the 30th anniversary of the permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan. This is also the year of peace and trust, as declared by the UN under a resolution initiated by Turkmenistan.
Here is the unofficial, paraphrased and truncated translation of the speech that was delivered in Farsi:
In the name of Allah, the Merciful
At the outset, I would like to thank the friendly and brotherly government and people of Turkmenistan for holding this valuable meeting, which coincides with the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s declaration of neutrality.
Any event or opportunity that forces us to think and discuss peace, security, and development is a humane, moral event that deserves praise, and any government or nation that makes efforts in this area deserves appreciation and support.
The initiative of the leadership of Turkmenistan to establish a group of friends of neutrality for peace, security and development, which has fortunately been supported by the United Nations, is a valuable initiative from a country that has proven its commitment to peace and security in practice.
Today, on behalf of the great and peace-loving people of Iran, I once again declare that any effort that helps strengthen the discourse of peace and cooperation at the global and regional levels will have the unwavering support of the people and government of the Islamic Republic of Iran .
Ladies and gentlemen
Dear colleagues,
In a world increasingly mired in crises, wars are not sudden events but the product of selfishness and self-importance. Before they erupt on the battlefield, wars are rooted in unjust global economic structures, in institutions that amplify the voices of the powerful and silence the voices of the weak, and in legal regimes that make justice conditional on the will of great powers. The result is that peace, instead of being a universal right, has become a privilege that lasts only in a particular geography.
Today, more than ever, we need to rethink the concept of peace; peace not through increasing military budgets, not through hardware alliances, nor through showy diplomacy, but by confronting the real roots of instability, namely inequality, monopoly, and discrimination.
[Remarks about Israel, situation in Gaza, and related factors]
Dear audience,
In the current circumstances, it is the responsibility of all countries to demonstrate in every possible way, by proposing regional initiatives, active participation in international organizations, and through ethical and multilateral diplomacy, that the world does not speak only the language of the great powers.
In this regard, we consider the holding of this meeting a step towards reminding ourselves of the great and universal responsibility to prevent blatant deviations from the principles of international peace and trust, and we thank the government and people of Turkmenistan for their efforts to strengthen the peace and security discourse.
The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that active and responsible neutrality does not mean passivity or indifference in the face of oppression and aggression, but rather a dynamic and ethically-based concept based on the principles of international law, humanitarian law, the United Nations Charter, and noble human values. Responsible and active neutrality requires adopting principled and fair positions against any injustice and blatant violation of the sovereignty and rights of countries and people.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a responsible member of the international community, firmly believes that peace and development can only be achieved through equal dialogue, collective cooperation, respect for international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and avoidance of unilateralism. Therefore, I hope that today’s meeting can create appropriate platforms for advancing our common goals and pave the way for establishing peace, stability, and development in the countries of the region.
In conclusion, while thanking the hospitality of the brotherly and friendly government of Turkmenistan and brother Serdar Berdimuhamedow, we defend and will sign any proposal to establish peace and security, as well as the proposal presented .
Thank you for your attention.
/// nCa, 13 December 2025