Geneva, 23 January 2026. The Permanent Representative of Cuba, Ambassador Rodolfo Benítez Verson, spoke today at the special session of the Human Rights Council on the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
In his remarks, Benítez questioned the speed with which the session was convened to condemn Iran, in contrast to the Council’s silence in the face of the very serious violations of the UN Charter, international law, and the human rights of the Venezuelan people committed by the Government of the United States through its brutal and illegal military aggression against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
The Ambassador categorically rejected any form of foreign intervention or interference in Iran or in any other country. He opposed any attempt to exploit the internal situation of any nation in pursuit of geopolitical agendas.
In explaining the Cuban delegation’s vote against the resolution presented on Iran, he emphasized that the text completely ignored the criminal and irresponsible attacks carried out by Israel and the United States against Iran, in blatant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, as well as the threats of further attacks against that country and the public incitement by the Government of the United States to political destabilization and violence in Iran.
The Cuban representative also objected to the deliberate omission in the resolution of the serious impacts that the unilateral coercive measures imposed for decades against Iran by the United States and some of its allies have had on the lives of millions of Iranians.
“In an act of supreme cynicism, some of those who punish the Iranian people with criminal unilateral measures now present themselves publicly as supposed allies of the Iranian people,” the Cuban representative stated.
He concluded by affirming that the only legitimate and effective way to promote and protect human rights is through dialogue and constructive cooperation, based on impartiality, mutual respect, and non-interference.