The Minister of Information and Communications Technology Seyed Sattar Hashemi has called for protecting the technical and non-political nature of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), reiterating Iran’s demand for a comprehensive assessment of the war damage inflicted on the country’s communications and broadcasting infrastructure.
He made the statement in a
meeting with Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General, on the sidelines of
the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2026 (PP-26) in Doha -- the highest
policy-making body of the United Nations agency for digital technologies.
Referring to the Islamic Republic
of Iran’s track record of active participation in the Union’s activities,
meetings, and study groups, he emphasized the continuation of technical
cooperation and the exchange of experiences among member countries.
Non-political nature of ITU
Iran’s ICT Minister expressed
deep concern over the military attacks by the United States and the Zionist
regime of Israel against Iran, condemning these acts of aggression, which have
resulted in civilian casualties and damage to communications infrastructure and
other civilian facilities.
Emphasizing the necessity of
respecting the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries and
observing the principles of international humanitarian law, Hashemi called on
the international community to adopt a responsible position to prevent the
recurrence of such actions and protect the lives and security of civilians.
He also considered preserving the
non-political nature of specialized international organizations, including the
International Telecommunication Union, essential for the continuation of
technical and scientific cooperation among countries.
“Politicizing the mandates of
these organizations undermines their effectiveness and credibility,” he noted.
Referring to the
Secretary-General’s responsibility for safeguarding the neutrality and
technical nature of the Union’s activities, Hashemi emphasized continuing
technological diplomacy and pursuing issues through specialized and
professional engagement.
Iran’s demand for impartial assessment
of telecom infra damage
Hashemi went on to recall the
Iran’s letter to the International Telecommunication Union, dated August 10,
2026, concerning the damage inflicted on the country’s information and
communications technology and broadcasting infrastructure, and called for continued
follow-up on this demand until a result is achieved.
He identified conducting a
comprehensive damage assessment, identifying reconstruction priorities, and
providing technical recommendations for the rehabilitation and reconstruction
of damaged infrastructure as among Iran’s key expectations.
Referring to the referral of the
matter to the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, he stressed the need
for the ITU Secretariat to pursue the issue continuously.
The Minister of ICT also referred
to the analytical letter submitted regarding the implementation of the ITU Resolution
1436 and called for the assessment of damage to the communications
infrastructure of member countries to be comprehensive, impartial, and based on
verifiable evidence, while also including the damage inflicted on Iran’s
communications infrastructure.
“The Secretary-General’s report
should focus on technical impacts and consequences and refrain from assigning
responsibility or adopting legal positions regarding the incidents,” Hashemi
stated.
He also called for a technical
assessment of the damage inflicted on Iran’s telecommunications and
broadcasting infrastructure, using the methodology applied in the report
concerning Resolution 1436, and for examining the possibility of providing
technical assistance and capacity-building support.
In conclusion, he considered a
fair, impartial, and technically grounded approach essential for preserving the
credibility of the Union and appropriately addressing the concerns of all
member countries.
The ICT Minister expressed hope
that cooperation between Iran and the International Telecommunication Union
would expand with the support of the Secretary-General.
ITU Secretary-General backs follow-up
on Iran’s demand
Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General
of the International Telecommunication Union, welcomed the views and proposals
put forward by the Minister, emphasizing the importance of Iran’s active
participation in the Union’s activities and programs.
She announced the Secretariat’s
readiness to examine the issues raised within the framework of the Union’s
specialized mandates.
Referring to Iran’s request
concerning the assessment of damage inflicted on the country’s communications
and broadcasting infrastructure, she stressed the importance of pursuing the
matter through expert-level and technical channels.
She expressed hope that
engagement between Iran and the Union’s Secretariat would lead to stronger
bilateral cooperation and progress on mutually agreed issues.
The Plenipotentiary Conference of
the International Telecommunication Union is being held in Doha, Qatar, from
November 9 to 27, 2026.
It is the highest decision-making
and policymaking body of the ITU and is held every four years with the
participation of representatives of member countries and is responsible for
determining the Union’s future strategies and priorities.
Iran’s ICT Minister is visiting
Doha at the head of a delegation with the aim of strengthening technological
diplomacy, expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and pursuing the
interests of Iran at this international event.
Bilateral meetings with ministers
and senior officials from various countries, as well as exploring opportunities
for cooperation in communications and emerging technologies, are among the main
objectives of this visit.