In a message marking the national day of combating chemical and biological weapons and the anniversary of the 1987 attack on Sardasht, Araqchi paid tribute to the victims of one of the most horrific crimes of modern history, as well as to chemical warfare veterans and all martyrs of Iran’s resistance.
Sardasht, located in Iran’s West Azerbaijan province, became in 1987 the third city in the world—after Hiroshima and Nagasaki—to be targeted with weapons of mass destruction. Iraqi aircraft struck populated areas of the city on June 28–29, 1987, killing 116 civilians and injuring more than 5,000 others, with thousands still suffering long-term effects.
Araqchi said the attack remains a “living document” of injustice and resilience, stressing that Iran’s experience under chemical warfare during the eight-year imposed war contributed to strengthening international norms against such weapons and the eventual adoption of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
He drew parallels between past atrocities and recent aggressions against Iran, condemning the use of force against civilians and reaffirming Iran’s stance against impunity for perpetrators of international crimes. He said the same “logic of aggression” that once enabled Iraq’s use of chemical weapons continues today in other forms of hostility and silence from certain states.
The foreign minister emphasized that the crimes committed in Sardasht were carried out in violation of international law, including the 1925 Geneva Protocol banning toxic gases, and insisted that responsibility for these acts does not expire with time. He called for accountability for all perpetrators and supporters of such crimes.
Araqchi reaffirmed that Iran, as one of the main victims of chemical weapons in modern history, rejects their use under any circumstances and remains committed to global efforts to eliminate weapons of mass destruction.
He concluded by honoring the resilience of the Iranian nation and the victims of Sardasht, expressing hope for a world free from war, terrorism, and chemical weapons, and based on justice, mutual respect, and human dignity.