Last autumn, Iran’s Navy commander declared on a televised broadcast that the regime claims ownership of Antarctica and plans to establish a military presence in the South Pole.
“We have property rights in the South Pole. We have plan to raise our flag there and carry out military and scientific work,” Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said in late September, according to a translation by the Washington D.C.-based Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).
Iran’s naval threats are gaining renewed attention following the recent killing of three American soldiers by Iranian-supported militias in Jordan.
The Antarctic Treaty, a pivotal agreement signed by twelve consultative nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, among others, is rooted in the principles of peace and scientific exploration. The treaty mandates that Antarctica remain a militarization-free zone, exclusively used for peaceful and scientific purposes. However, Iran, not a signatory to the treaty, has expressed ambitions that run counter to these agreed terms, raising alarm bells.
“Iran’s future plans to try to expand its military presence and influence into the Antarctic would not only violate multilateral conventions on the issue, but continues the regime’s trend of aggression across the globe,” said Yonah Jeremy Bob, author of “Target Tehran” and a senior Jerusalem Post military and intelligence analyst.
“Whether through terrorism on basically every continent or its rampant piracy in the maritime arena, the Islamic Republic continues to show why it is a danger to world stability and why Israel and the Mossad’s role in holding it back from nuclear weapons remains critical.”
“Every time Tehran expands its tentacles into a new area to disrupt the rules-based order promoted by the West, the U.S. and its allies are given an additional opportunity to take the nuclear threat more seriously. Antarctica might seem a distant threat, but if the West acts as meekly as it did when Iran recently kicked out nuclear weapons inspectors, the Islamic Republic will only become further emboldened on other track,” he added.
U.S. State Department spokesperson if the recent American unfreezing of $6 billion in Iranian funds held in Qatar could be used by Iran to set up a base in Antarctica.
“No. Iran’s funds held in Qatar may not be used for any activities in Antarctica,” the spokesperson said. “Those funds can only be used to purchase humanitarian goods, meaning food, medicine, medical devices and agricultural products.”
Despite the outcry, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi remains defiant. Raisi has indicated that his regime will deploy the funds “wherever we need it.” This pronouncement is seen as a taunt to the Biden White House, which has faced criticism for releasing the funds ahead of the Hamas attacks in southern Israel on October 7.
The prospect of Iran establishing a military presence in Antarctica has profound implications. If Tehran were to succeed in this endeavor, it would not only breach a treaty that has been the bedrock of international cooperation in the continent but could also signal a shift in the strategic status quo. Beyond the geopolitical ramifications, a military base in this unspoiled natural reserve could hinder access to essential scientific data and disrupt critical research on climate change and marine biology.
Experts like Jennifer Dyer, a retired U.S. Naval Intelligence commander, have weighed in on the legal ramifications, stating that “raising the flag at the South Pole doesn’t carry any implications in international law.” Furthermore, Dyer emphasized that any actions by Iran would not be recognized by other nations, particularly the Antarctic Treaty signatories, which include powerhouses like the United States, Russia, and several countries located near Antarctica, such as Chile and New Zealand.
Iran’s Antarctic claim appears ambitious and out of step with the global community, echoing the sentiments of Potkin Azarmehr, an expert on Iran, who characterized the Iranian state as reminiscent of the Soviet Union’s final days—grandiose in speech but bankrupt in delivering basic services to its people.
Relevant articles:
– Iran declares Antarctica its property in direct challenge to Biden, global treaty
– Iran claims Antarctica; US State Department responds to safety challenge against global treaty, Hindustan Times, Thu, 15 Feb 2024 14:09:58 GMT
– Iran’s Unprecedented Claim to Antarctica: A Challenge to Global Stability, BNN Breaking, Thu, 15 Feb 2024 12:04:21 GMT
– Iran claims ‘property rights’ to Antarctica, plans to build naval base, MyIndMakers, Thu, 15 Feb 2024 17:36:10 GMT