Message from His Excellency Dr. Alireza Delkhosh,
Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran
COLOMBO : Forty seven years ago, on this day, the Islamic Revolution of Iran achieved victory under the leadership of Imam Khomeini. Since the early days, the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been founded on the principles of human dignity, justice, and the rejection of domination. The country’s foreign policy is likewise centered on maintaining balanced and comprehensive relations with friendly nations, guided by the principle of neither East nor West. Over the years, the country has consistently upheld its commitment to the fundamental principles of foreign policy, namely mutual respect for friendly governments and nations.
The foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been defined under two axes: The Policy of the Economy of Resistance and the Policy of Stability and Security in the region and the international system. These two principles have become the basis for expanding and strengthening relations with neighboring and friendly countries. In line with this, the Islamic Republic of Iran considers constructive interaction, as well as bilateral and multilateral cooperation with friendly countries, in the fight against terrorism and extremism, and drug trafficking as the main priorities.
In recent years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has achieved remarkable accomplishments in various scientific and technological fields, while simultaneously expanding its relations with different countries. This demonstrates the strengthening of capabilities, sustainable progress, industrial self-sufficiency, and steady march toward prosperity.
Among many notable achievements, the Islamic Republic of Iran has successfully developed a variety of advanced radiopharmaceuticals in the fields of nuclear, scientific, and medical technology for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. These include drugs such as Gallium-68 for PET imaging and Lutetium-177 for alleviating pain in cancer patients, which are now widely used in domestic medical centers and have substantially reduced dependence on imports. Iran is also capable of producing more than 70 specialized radiopharmaceuticals, a capability possessed by only a handful of countries worldwide.
In the field of peaceful nuclear energy, Iran possesses a complete nuclear fuel cycle, encompassing enrichment, fuel production, heavy water technology, and advanced nuclear research. Every year, more than 100 scientific achievements are unveiled on the National Nuclear Technology Day.
In medical innovation and healthcare, Iran leverages nuclear technology and collaborates with research centers to provide extensive services in early disease detection and specialized cancer treatments, including the use of Fluorine-18 in PET imaging and other advanced nuclear medicine techniques.
In aerospace and satellite technology, Iran has successfully launched domestically developed satellites into orbit, including the Noor-3 satellite, which is capable of Earth observation, reflecting significant progress in civilian space endeavors.
Moreover, in advanced industrial and scientific technologies, Iranian knowledge-based companies have made remarkable strides in nanotechnology, robotics, electronics, artificial intelligence, and information technology. Long-term plans are underway to develop space infrastructure, including the Chabahar Space Base, with a target completion by 2031.
In the field of Precision Agriculture, Iran employs sensors, satellite data, GPS, and artificial intelligence analytics to optimize water use, reduce fertilizers and pesticides, and increase crop yields. Knowledge-based companies have also developed smart, remote-controlled drip irrigation systems that adjust irrigation patterns in real time based on soil and water data, reducing water consumption by 30–40%—particularly in arid and water-scarce regions.
These advancements and achievements open new horizons for enhancing technological and industrial cooperation between Iran and Sri Lanka.
Sanctions, Military Aggression, and National Solidarity
These remarkable industrial and technological achievements have occurred despite the Iranian nation being subjected to various unjust sanctions imposed by the United States over the past 47 years. These sanctions were motivated by Iran’s insistence on its inherent rights to pursue peaceful technologies, on the one hand, and the U.S. determination to deny the Iranian people these fundamental rights, on the other.
In June 2025, Iranian territory came under military attacks by the Israeli regime. These attacks were subsequently accompanied by direct U.S. involvement, targeting peaceful nuclear facilities, urban infrastructure, and Iranian civilians. More than a thousand civilians, along with senior military commanders, were martyred off-duty in these assaults. In accordance with its right to self-defense, the Islamic Republic of Iran delivered a crushing response to the Israeli attacks. Ultimately, this regime, which has also recorded the killing of over 70,000 people in Gaza in its dark history of atrocities, conceded to a ceasefire after twelve days.
Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran is stronger than ever and fully prepared to respond to any external military threat. Throughout its history, Iran has never initiated a war; yet the pages of its history are filled with accounts of its people resolutely defending themselves and their homeland. While Iranians do not seek war, they are fully capable of waging it and defending their nation when necessary.
In addition to sanctions and comprehensive economic pressures alongside direct aggression, Iran’s adversaries have relied on terrorism, supporting terrorist groups in efforts to hinder Iran’s progress. The most recent example occurred on 28 December 2025, when some business owners and merchants held peaceful demonstrations in response to economic hardships stemming from the United States’ unjust sanctions against the Iranian economy.
It is crucial to note that civil protests in any democratic society represent a fundamental principle of popular governance. Iranian authorities welcomed these peaceful demonstrations with open arms. The President of the Islamic Republic promptly issued directives to address the concerns of merchants and economic actors. Special committees were established at the Central Bank and relevant ministries, and necessary measures were taken. However, certain disruptive elements, guided by multiple foreign intelligence services, hijacked the peaceful protests of the people.
By distorting the nature of the peaceful protests toward violent unrest, rioting groups, guided and directed by foreign services, engaged in acts of violence, including killing civilians, setting urban facilities on fire, attacking ambulances and hospitals, and damaging metro stations, mosques, and other city infrastructure. They even did not hesitate to kill police personnel and burn police stations.
Several current and former U.S. and Zionist Regime’s officials while openly acknowledging the presence of their operatives in the streets of Tehran, attempted to steer the unrest in a direction that could undermine the country’s overall governance. Yet, the massive turnout of the Iranian people on Monday, 12 January, across cities nationwide, sent a clear and decisive message against foreign interference and a strong condemnation of violence and chaos. People, while united in denouncing the unjust U.S. sanctions, which have exacerbated economic pressures, deprived patients of essential medicines, and
targeted the country’s economy, simultaneously condemned in strong term any exploitation of the situation by external adversaries.
In the view of the Iranian people, the tragic events of January 2026, during which hundreds of people lost their lives and significant economic damage occurred, represented a continuation of the 12-day war by the Israeli regime against Iran. In those acts of aggression, although the U.S.-backed child-killing Zionist regime attempted to destroy Iran’s infrastructure, it was met with a decisive response from Iran’s armed forces and was compelled to agree to a ceasefire. In continuation of that 12-day campaign, attempts were made to destabilize the country from within, but these efforts failed due to the vigilance of the Iranian people. However, more resilient than ever and with firm determination, the Iranian nation will take revenge for these criminal acts. The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes any governments and nations which give hands in the path of fight against terrorism, and declares its readiness for any form of regional and international collaboration to combat terrorism.
Historical Relations and Cooperation with Sri Lanka
Iran and Sri Lanka share long-standing historical and civilizational ties that date back thousands of years. These relations are grounded in cultural and civilizational affinity and, over time, have consistently progressed along a path of constructive engagement and mutual understanding, shaped by political and economic developments. Although formal diplomatic relations between the two countries have
existed for less than six decades, the underlying ethos of these relations has always been based on mutual respect, economic and political cooperation, and positive engagement at both bilateral and multilateral levels.
In this context, the Islamic Republic of Iran affirms its full readiness to strengthen technological, industrial, and economic cooperation and to establish frameworks for collaboration with Sri Lanka in areas such as trade, investment, energy, agriculture, and science. Iran believes that expanding these partnerships can foster innovative joint projects, boost employment, and promote sustainable economic growth in both countries. By continuing along this path, the two nations will not only preserve their historical bonds and longstanding friendship but also elevate their collaboration in science and industry to a new, influential level in the region and globally.
Once again, it is my distinct honor to extend my warmest congratulations to the government and the honorable people of Sri Lanka as this beautiful land celebrates its 78th Independence Day. I sincerely hope that the coming years will herald a bright and flourishing chapter in the development of relations between Iran and Sri Lanka, strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our two nations.
