Cartoon (23): Ahmadinejad’s New World Order

In a speech delivered September 26, 2012, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad extolled the importance of “the idea of creation of the United Nations.” He asked the General Assembly, “Is there any way to address the problems and challenges besetting the world by using the prevailing international mechanisms and tools to help humanity achieve the long-standing aspiration of peace, security and equality?”

Under Ahmadinejad’s two terms as president, Iranian officials have consistently refused to cooperate with UN mechanisms. Iranian officials have ignored the vast majority of communications from UN special mandate holders, have denied well-documented human rights abuses, and have refused to allow the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran to even enter the country. The answer to his question could begin with his own country’s cooperation with existing UN mechanisms.