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Iranian Foreign Minister seeks Lanka’s support amid renewed UN sanctions
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has appealed to his Sri Lankan counterpart, Vijitha Herath, for solidarity following the United Nations’ reimposition of sweeping economic and military sanctions on Tehran, foreign media reports said yesterday.
A report published by REGTECHTIMES said: Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has sent urgent messages to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, urging both nations to oppose sanctions imposed by the United States and its Western allies. According to Iran’s Ambassador in Colombo, Alireza Delkhosh, the letters highlighted concerns that these sanctions could weaken international law and set a dangerous precedent for other countries.
Araghchi’s messages emphasised that the issue is not only about Iran. They stated that today it is Iran facing restrictions, but tomorrow it could be other countries, including those in South Asia and Africa. The letters suggested that allowing sanctions to continue without resistance could make international rules appear fragile and ineffective.
The letters described the sanctions as a challenge to the credibility of global law. Araghchi called on Sri Lanka and the Maldives to resist pressure from Western countries and defend the dignity of international Law. He warned that treating international law as a political tool is dangerous and could have long-term consequences for countries around the world.
Recent Sanctions and International Response
The letters come after the United Nations reimposed sanctions on Iran through a mechanism called “snapback.” The process was triggered by Britain, France, and Germany, who argued that Iran had failed to meet its commitments under the 2015 nuclear agreement. These sanctions targeted Iran’s nuclear and ballistic programmes and included measures that had previously been lifted, such as bans on oil exports, banking, transport, and energy trade.
Following the UN actions, the European Union reinstated strict sanctions. The EU said that Iran had breached the terms of the nuclear deal and that its stockpile of enriched uranium had exceeded agreed limits. These measures are intended to prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear and missile programmes.
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Meanwhile, the United States also increased pressure by imposing sanctions on 38 individuals and companies in Iran and China. According to the US Treasury Department, these groups supplied Iran’s military with missiles, helicopter parts, and other technologies. The US described these sanctions as a way to enforce international restrictions and stop Iran from acquiring advanced military technologies.
Iran has strongly rejected the return of UN sanctions. The country described these measures as illegal and said they carry no obligations for other nations. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, any attempt to reapply old resolutions that ended in 2015 is invalid and has no legal effect.
Iran’s Call to Other Nations
In the letters, Araghchi stressed that the situation is a test for global law and the fairness of international rules. He urged Sri Lanka and the Maldives to resist pressure from Western powers and take a stand. Araghchi warned that ignoring this moment could make international rules appear weak and allow stronger countries to impose restrictions without accountability.
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According to Ambassador Alireza Delkhosh, supporting Iran’s position is not only about helping one nation but also about protecting the credibility of international law. The letters suggested that smaller countries could play an important role in defending global fairness and preventing powerful countries from acting without consequences.
The messages were delivered as part of Iran’s broader diplomatic efforts to rally international support against what it calls “unjust sanctions.” By reaching out to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Iran is seeking to show that its opposition has global backing and is not Limited to just a few nations.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions between Iran and Western countries over nuclear programmes, sanctions, and international rules. It also highlights the role that smaller nations can play in influencing global decisions and defending international Law.
Executive Director of People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Rohana Hettiarachchi yesterday (28) said that there were three major concerns regarding the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2026. Acknowledging the recent Supreme Court determination, in respect of the above-mentioned Bill, that three of the provisions were not consistent with the Constitution, requiring a special majority in Parliament, with one clause requiring approval by the people at a Referendum, Hettiarachchi said nonetheless PAFFREL had decided to bring their concerns to the notice of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Responding to The Island queries, Hettiarachchci said that PAFFREL sent a letter, dated 24 Sept., to President Dissanayake, regarding the issue at hand.
Petitions against the Bill was heard before a three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices Shiran Gooneratne, Mahinda Samayawardena and Sampath Wijeratne.
PAFFREL and Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) were among the petitioners who challenged the proposed amendments to the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023. “We did so in public interest,” Hettiarachchchi said, adding that three major concerns were (i) the breadth of the proposed redaction power and the proposed criminalisation of certain uses of publicly accessible redacted asset declarations, particularly in relation to freedom of expression, and the public’s right to meaningfully receive and impart information (ii) raising of the State or public-corporation shareholding threshold for certain asset declaration obligations from 25% to 50%, as this could exclude officers of State-linked entities in which the State holds less than 50%, in spite of such entities exercising public functions and managing public resources and (iii)role of the Director General Ranga Dissanayake.
Hettiarachchchi emphasised that though the PARREL appreciated the way CIABOC DG handled his responsibilities, centreing of power on one person was not acceptable.
Hettiarachchi urged President Dissanayake and the 159-member government parliamentary group to pay attention to concerns raised by those who moved court against the controversial Bill and address their concerns though the Parliament received the SC determination.
An International Monetary Fund mission that visited Colombo recently warned that the proposed amendments could weaken the country’s anti-corruption framework.
The mission, led by Evan Papageorgiou, was in the country from 10 to 23 September for discussions on the seventh review of the Extended Fund Facility and the 2026 Article IV consultation. (SF)
The Supreme Court yesterday (28) dismissed two petitions filed by retired Flight Lieutenant Shantha Jayathilake against Deputy Inspector General of Police of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Shani Abeysekara and Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Ravi Seneviratne, and Rev. Father Cyril Gamini, alleging them of committing contempt of court.
They were the first cases dealt by the Supreme Court after the enactment of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.
The recipient of gallantry medal alleged that contempt of court had been committed through an affidavit previously submitted to the Supreme Court by Shani Abeysekara and Ravi Seneviratne.
The other petition alleged that contempt of court had been committed through the contents of a complaint submitted to the Criminal Investigation Department by Rev. Father Cyril Gamini.
The Supreme Court ordered that both petitions be dismissed without being taken up for hearing.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) yesterday (28) named former Minister and leader of the SLPP parliamentary group Namal Rajapaksa as the fourth suspect in the Krrish case before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.
The MP was named as the fourth suspect in the wake of the arrest and remanding of former Executive Officer and Director of the Krrish Group, Janaki Siriwardena, regarding the payment of Rs. 70 mn to Namal Rajapaksa to facilitate the land transaction. Police arrested Ms. Siriwardena on 24 September and she was remanded till 6 Oct. pending investigations.
The investigation focuses on 4.3 acre land development in the Fort area that began in the 2013-2014 period. Investigations were launched in 2016 by the Yahapalana government, following a complaint lodged by Wasantha Samarasinghe, now a Minister in the current Cabinet.
The Indian company in this controversy is Krrish Transworks Colombo (Pvt.) Ltd .
The CIABOC named Namal Rajapaksa as a suspect in the Krrish case while he was remanded over two cases in respect of Airbus bribery probe. (SF)
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