16th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement

{{main|Non-Aligned Movement}}

File:NAM 2012 Tehran.jpg]]

As of August 2012, the organisation consists of 120 member states, including the non-UN member state of Palestine, and 21 other observer countries.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} The countries of the Non-Aligned Movement represent nearly two-thirds of the United Nations' members and contain 55% of the world's population.Grant, Cedric. "Equity in Third World Relations: A Third World Perspective". International Affairs 71, 3 (1995), 567–587.

Since the Non-Aligned Movement was formed in an attempt not to take sides during the Cold War,{{Cite book|title=Land and Maritime Zones of Peace in International Law |last=Suvedi|first=Suryaprasada|year=1996|publisher= Oxford: Clarendon Press; New York City:Oxford University Press|isbn= 978-0-198-26096-7|pages=169–170}} it has sought to seek a new direction since the fall of the Soviet Union. After the breakup of Yugoslavia, a founding member, its membership was suspended{{cite web |url=http://www.nam.gov.za/background/members.htm |title=NAM Member States |publisher=Nam.gov.za |date=23 January 2002 |access-date=27 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101209233514/http://www.nam.gov.za/background/members.htm |archive-date=9 December 2010 |url-status=dead}} in 1992 at the regular ministerial meeting held in New York during the regular annual session of the United Nations General Assembly.{{cite news|author=Kin, Lai Kwon |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/yugoslavia-casts-shadow-over-nonaligned-summit-1548802.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/yugoslavia-casts-shadow-over-nonaligned-summit-1548802.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Yugoslavia Casts Shadow over Non-Aligned Summit|work=The Independent|date=2 September 1992|agency=Reuters|access-date=25 August 2012|quote=Iran and several other Muslim nations want the rump state of Yugoslavia kicked out, saying it no longer represents the country which helped to found the movement.|location=London}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite book|author=Najam, Adil|editor=Nagel, Stuart S.|title=Policymaking and Prosperity: A Multinational Anthology|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eCVZ5Vir2e0C&pg=PA233 |publisher=Lexington Books|year=2003|pages=197–240 [233]|chapter=Chapter 9: The Collective South in Multinational Environmental Politics|access-date=19 November 2009|location=Lanham, Maryland|isbn=978-0-739-10460-6|quote=Turkmenistan, Belarus and Dominican Republic are the most recent entrants. The application of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Costa Rica were rejected in 1995 and 1998, respectively.|author-link=Adil Najam}}

The summit was scheduled to be held at Kish Island but it was transferred to Tehran in 2010. According to Vice President Ali Saeedlou, who is the head of the organising committee, up to 7,000 participants – including delegations and the media – are expected to attend the summit. To prepare for the meeting and reduce traffic and air pollution, a five-day public holiday in Tehran has been called for the duration of the summit. Parts of Tehran have been beautified with lamp posts and freshly painted road markings. Roads around the summit venue will be closed to all but official vehicles. Iran's deputy police chief Ahmad Reza Radan stated "The police are on full alert during the Non-Aligned Movement summit." In addition, to raise security of the event, visa-free entry to Iran normally offered to nationals from several countries has been temporarily suspended.{{cite web|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/region/iran/iran-to-host-historic-nam-summit-1.1064668|title=Iran to host 'historic' NAM summit |work=Gulf News|date=22 August 2012|access-date=27 August 2012}}

The "Senior Officials Meeting" and "Ministerial Meeting" convened at the "IRIB International Conference Center" (IICC). The summit was held at "Tehran's Summit Conference Hall".

{{More citations needed|date=August 2012}}

File:Meeting of the heads of state at the 16th summit of the NAM (4).jpg

A spokesman of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that 24 presidents, 3 kings, 8 vice presidents, 8 prime ministers, 50 foreign ministers attended at the summit.{{cite web|url=http://www.rajanews.com/detail.asp?id=136085|title=آخرین وضعیت سطح مشارکت کشورها در اجلاس تهران/ ثبت رکورد در تاریخ نم|trans-title=The latest state of the nation's participation in the Tehran Summit / not on record |publisher=Raja News|access-date=31 August 2012}} By the first day of the summit, 110 delegations arrived Tehran.{{cite news|url=http://www.namna.ir/en/homeen/28-english-latest-news/678-110-foreign-delegations-have-arrived-tehran.html|title=110 Foreign Delegations Have Arrived Tehran|publisher=NAMNA|access-date=27 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828214531/http://www.namna.ir/en/homeen/28-english-latest-news/678-110-foreign-delegations-have-arrived-tehran.html|archive-date=28 August 2012|url-status=dead}}

Ali Akbar Salehi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, announced that the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, would attend the conference. He also invited leaders of Russia, Turkey and Brazil to the summit. Mohamed Morsi, ex-president of NAM and the Egyptian President, also announced that he would participate in the summit. He was the first leader of his country to visit Iran since the Islamic revolution.{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/08/20128286492259586.html|title=Egypt's Morsi steps out onto world stage|publisher=Al Jazeera|access-date=31 August 2012}}

Iran reportedly cancelled an invitation to Saudi Arabia to attend the summit.{{cite web|author= Staff|url=http://www.payvand.com/news/12/jun/1209.html|title=Iran not to Invite Saudi King to NAM Summit in Tehran|publisher=Mehr News Agency (via payvand.com)|date=22 June 2012|access-date=25 August 2012}} However, it was later announced that Abdulaziz bin Abdullah, Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister, would participate in the summit upon the invitation of Saudi Arabia.{{cite news|last=Khatinoglu|first=D.|title=Saudi Prince to Participate at NAM Summit in Iran|url=http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/140821/saudi-prince-to-participate-at-nam-summit-in-iran.html|access-date=25 August 2012|publisher=Journal of Turkish Weekly|date=24 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827041951/http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/140821/saudi-prince-to-participate-at-nam-summit-in-iran.html|archive-date=27 August 2012|url-status=dead}}

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad commented on the significance of the summit in Iran: "Certain NAM states too have upheld sanctions against Iran which is a totally unwise move because the sanctions are not on part of the UN, rather unilaterally levelled by the US The U.S. can issue any sort of sanctions it wants against Iran but there is no reason other countries to follow suit."{{cite web|url=http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/08/22/news/foreign/tehran-nam-summit-significant-mahathir-mohammad/ |title=Tehran NAM Summit significant: Mahathir Mohamad |publisher=Pakistan Today |date=22 August 2012 |access-date=27 August 2012}}

An Iranian government official also commented on the summit, reportedly saying that "the NAM summit is the best opportunity to confront the sanctions." He added that "in meetings with the officials of [fellow] member states, we should brief them on the illegality of these sanctions and talk to them to make these sanctions ineffective."[http://english.farsnews.ir/newstext.php?nn=9104254113 “MP Sees NAM Summit as Best Chance to Confront Anti-Iran Sanctions”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819093449/http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9104254113 |date=19 August 2012 }}, "Fars News Agency", 14 August 2012

File:Meeting of the heads of state at the 16th summit of the NAM (5).jpg

The base of the summit's negotiations' framework is the "Final Document" adopted during the Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement Coordinating Bureau which was held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, from 7 to 10 May 2012.

The Foreign Ministry also said that the agenda would primarily consist of issues pertaining to nuclear disarmament, human rights and regional issues. Iran also intended to draw up a new peace resolution aiming to resolve the Syrian civil war.{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/video/2012-08/26/c_131808319.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422172233/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/video/2012-08/26/c_131808319.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 April 2014 |title=Non-Aligned Movement summit opens in Tehran – Xinhua | English.news.cn |agency=Xinhua News Agency |access-date=27 August 2012}}

Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi opened the first meeting and spoke of NAM's original goal: "We believe that the timetable for ultimate removal of nuclear weapons by 2025, which was proposed by NAM, will only be realised if we follow it up decisively."{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/08/2012826102944590286.html |title=Iran opens global summit with nuclear appeals |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=August 2012 |access-date=27 August 2012}} At the opening of the ministerial meeting Khamenei said: "The UN Security Council has an irrational, unjust and utterly undemocratic structure, and this is an overt dictatorship. The control room of the world (the Security Council) is under the control of the dictatorship of some Western countries." Al Jazeera interpreted Moon's reaction as "nonplussed."

The Senior Officials Meeting was held on 26 and 27 August 2012. The officials reviewed the Sharm el-Sheikh's document and issued a draft document which should be endorsed by the ministerial meetings. Iran's deputy foreign minister, Mohammad Mehdi Akhondzadeh, who is also secretary general of the senior officials meeting, read parts of the draft document at the press conference and mentioned some of the main points including rejection of all forms of terrorism, as well as all form of occupation including occupation of the Palestinian territories by Israel, requesting weapons of mass destruction and nuclear weapon disarmament, condemning unilateral sanctions and replacing unipolar management of international politics with collective management. According to Akhundzadeh, the draft urges for a Middle East free from nuclear weapons and emphasizes "inalienable" right of all NAM member states for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, envisaged by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/bilingual/2012-08/28/c_131812979.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209212812/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/bilingual/2012-08/28/c_131812979.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 February 2013 |title=Senior officials' meeting of NAM issues draft document – Xinhua | English.news.cn |agency=Xinhua News Agency |date=27 August 2012 |access-date=31 August 2012}}

The Ministerial Meeting with presence of foreign ministers of NAM countries was held on 28 and 29 August 2012. Egypt's Deputy Foreign Minister, Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy, handed the presidency of the ministerial meeting for three years at the opening ceremony of the meeting.{{cite web |url=http://english.farsnews.ir/newstext.php?nn=9106060226 |title=Fars News Agency :: NAM Foreign Ministers Kick off Afternoon Session |publisher=English.farsnews.ir |date=28 August 2012 |access-date=19 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606181753/http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9106060226 |archive-date=6 June 2013 |url-status=dead}} After opening remark of Ali Akbar Salehi and listening to the report of Senior Officials Meeting which was delivered by Mohammad Mehdi Akhondzadeh, the ministers starts to review the document.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nam.gov.ir/Portal/File/ShowFile.aspx?ID=3a732f94-0302-49a5-ac78-ca74b892cb82 |title=Archived copy |access-date=31 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821204639/http://nam.gov.ir/Portal/File/ShowFile.aspx?ID=3a732f94-0302-49a5-ac78-ca74b892cb82 |archive-date=21 August 2012 |url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.nam.gov.ir/Portal/File/ShowFile.aspx?ID=27bf1f3b-cb06-478e-bddb-2525fb91cd03 |title=Archived copy |access-date=31 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821204624/http://nam.gov.ir/Portal/File/ShowFile.aspx?ID=27bf1f3b-cb06-478e-bddb-2525fb91cd03 |archive-date=21 August 2012 |url-status=dead}} After preparation of the final document for the leaders' summit, Ali Akbar Salehi participated in a press conference and emphasized on the four main topics that were discussed at the meeting including establishment a task force in New York to pursue Palestine's membership in the United Nations and act against Israel's "illegal" measures against Palestinians, finding solution for Syrian crisis with United Nations cooperation, acting against monopolizing of the financial mechanisms in the world by using US dollar and finally establishment of a work group in New York to study the mechanisms of plural management of the world.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

On 30 August, the summit was inaugurated by Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Then the Egyptian President, Mohammad Morsi, as the chair of the 15th summit declared opening of the 16th summit and presented the report of NAM's chairmanship during the past three years. Morsi officially handed the presidency of the Non-Aligned Movement to the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. After Morsi, President of the Sixty-sixth session of the United Nations General Assembly Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Chair of the Group of 77 Mourad Benmehidi, host President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh delivered their opening speeches.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nam.gov.ir/Portal/File/ShowFile.aspx?ID=f176b8d6-eb5c-4618-804d-891768adff82 |title=Archived copy |access-date=30 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821204717/http://nam.gov.ir/Portal/File/ShowFile.aspx?ID=f176b8d6-eb5c-4618-804d-891768adff82 |archive-date=21 August 2012 |url-status=dead}} Khamenei later commented that "the Non-Aligned Movement definitely has more political right than the US, NATO or some European countries to intervene in the Syrian issue," but "did not elaborate on what kind of role the group should have".[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/08/2012831202943830728.html “Iran urges non-aligned nations role in Syria”], "Al Jazeera", 1 September 2012

Inaugurating the summit, Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei condemned the use of nuclear and chemical weapons as an "unforgivable sin", and called for "Middle East Free from Nuclear Weapons"."[http://tehrantimes.com/component/content/article/92-nam/101049-iran-committed-to-mideast-free-of-nuclear-weapons-leader-tells-nam?tmpl=component&page= Iran committed to Mideast free of nuclear weapons, Leader tells NAM] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513103913/http://tehrantimes.com/component/content/article/92-nam/101049-iran-committed-to-mideast-free-of-nuclear-weapons-leader-tells-nam?tmpl=component&page= |date=13 May 2013 }}," Tehran Times, 30 August 2012. Khamenei argued that it was ironic for the US to oppose nuclear proliferation while, according to Khamenei, it possessed the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons and had used them in the past. He also accused the US and its Western allies of providing "the usurper Zionist regime" with nuclear weapons.{{cite news|author=Sandeep Dikshit |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article3839681.ece |title=News / International : Khamenei slams U.N., West over nuclear 'hypocrisy' |work=The Hindu|access-date=31 August 2012 |location=Chennai, India |date=30 August 2012}} A day after U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon asked Khamenei to lower his rhetoric on Israel, Khamanei accused "the Zionist regime" of "waging disastrous wars" and "organizing state terror" throughout the world, and said the media that it and the West own repeat the "lie" that the Palestinians are "terrorists." He criticized the UN Security Council as "unjust" and "undemocratic" and accused the US of abusing it.{{cite web | url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-sharp-rebuttal-un-secretary-general-ban-ki-moon-denounces-iranian-threats-to-israel-and-denial-of-the-holocaust/ | title=In stinging rebuke to hosts, UN chief denounces Iranian anti-Israel threats and Holocaust denial |work=The Times of Israel; Associated Press | date=30 August 2012 | access-date=30 August 2012}} Other Iranian officials stated that the Security Council had more power than the General Assembly and criticized the veto rights of its permanent members.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C08%5C28%5Cstory_28-8-2012_pg14_1 |title=Leading News Resource of Pakistan |work=Daily Times |access-date=31 August 2012}} Khamenei accused the United States of protecting the interests of the Western countries in the name of "human rights", interfering militarily in other countries in the name of "democracy", and targeting civilians in the name of "combating terrorism." Khamenei also proposed improving the "political productivity" of the Non-Aligned Movement in global governance and called for a "historic document", an active secretariat, and administrative tools to achieve this. He also called for economic cooperation and for cultural relationships between NAM members.{{cite news |url=http://india.nydailynews.com/business/3c3c3cb3289d5477ee0f2594e7ce683e/iran-not-hankering-after-n-weapons-ayatollah-khamenei |title=Iran not hankering after n-weapons: Ayatollah Khamenei – NY Daily News |work=Daily News |location=New York |access-date=31 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902074902/http://india.nydailynews.com/business/3c3c3cb3289d5477ee0f2594e7ce683e/iran-not-hankering-after-n-weapons-ayatollah-khamenei |archive-date=2 September 2012 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://english.khamenei.ir//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1668 |title=Supreme Leader's Inaugural Speech at the 16th Non-Aligned Summit |publisher=Khamenei.ir |access-date=31 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112211620/http://english.khamenei.ir//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=781&Itemid=4 |archive-date=12 November 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://tehrantimes.com/politics/101048-iran-committed-to-mideast-free-of-nuclear-weapons-leader-tells-nam |title=Iran committed to Mideast free of nuclear weapons, Leader tells NAM |work=Tehran Times |access-date=31 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902053508/http://www.tehrantimes.com/politics/101048-iran-committed-to-mideast-free-of-nuclear-weapons-leader-tells-nam |archive-date=2 September 2012 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Bar |first=Zvi |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/in-iran-meet-un-chief-denounces-threats-to-destroy-israel-holocaust-denial-1.461714?localLinksEnabled=false |title=In Iran meet, UN chief denounces threats to destroy Israel, Holocaust denial – Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper |work=Haaretz |access-date=31 August 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2012/Aug-30/186163-iran-summit-stumbles-on-nuclear-syria-criticism.ashx#axzz2528ePHgL |title=News :: Middle East :: Iran's policies attacked by U.N. head, Egyptian leader |work=The Daily Star |access-date=31 August 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/afp/world-leaders-squirm-as-iran-summit-turns-tense/541296 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203233047/http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/afp/world-leaders-squirm-as-iran-summit-turns-tense/541296 |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 February 2013 |title=World leaders squirm as Iran summit turns tense |work=Jakarta Globe |access-date=31 August 2012 }}{{cite web |url=http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_08_30/UN-chief-slams-Iran-over-Holocaust-anti-Israel-remarks/ |title=UN chief slams Iran over Holocaust, anti-Israel remarks: Voice of Russia |date=27 August 2012 |access-date=31 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903001110/http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_08_30/UN-chief-slams-Iran-over-Holocaust-anti-Israel-remarks/ |archive-date=3 September 2012 |url-status=dead}}

Following Khamenei's remarks, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who was described as visibly irritated,{{cite news | url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jjaaFF2XVbleL2kr4zWR0grzcbOQ?docId=CNG.fb8dd20e4b2a34dde01d223b54e3399b.411 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901203833/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jjaaFF2XVbleL2kr4zWR0grzcbOQ?docId=CNG.fb8dd20e4b2a34dde01d223b54e3399b.411 | url-status=dead | archive-date=1 September 2012 | title=World leaders squirm as Iran summit turns tense |agency=Agence France-Presse| date=30 August 2012 | access-date=30 August 2012 | author=Davari, Mohammad}} denounced Iran's position towards Israel in his opening speech. "I strongly reject threats by any member state to destroy another or outrageous attempts to deny historical facts, such as the Holocaust," he said. "Claiming that another UN Member State, Israel, does not have the right to exist, or describing it in racist terms, is not only utterly wrong but undermines the very principles we have all pledged to uphold."{{cite web | url=https://www.un.org/sg/statements/index.asp?nid=6264 | title=Secretary-General's remarks to the High-Level Segment of the 16th Non-Aligned Movement Summit | United Nations Secretary-General }}[https://www.un.org/apps/news/infocus/sgspeeches/search_full.asp?statID=1635 “Remarks to the High-Level Segment of the 16th Non-Aligned Movement Summit”], "UN News Centre", 30 August 2012{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-rt-us-iran-summit-banbre87t0dd-20120830,0,2078664.story |title=U.N. chief excoriates Iran for threats to Israel, Holocaust denial |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=31 August 2012}}{{cite web|agency=Reuters |url=http://www.jpost.com/IranianThreat/News/Article.aspx?id=283191 |title=Ban condemns Iran's threats, Hol... JPost – Iranian Threat |work=The Jerusalem Post | date=28 February 2010 |access-date=31 August 2012}} While describing Iran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency as "constructive and useful,"{{cite web |url=http://www.namnewsnetwork.org/v3/read.php?id=MjA0Nzgx |title=Un Chief Praises Iran'S Cooperation with the Iaea |publisher=Nam News Network |access-date=31 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407193352/http://www.namnewsnetwork.org/v3/read.php?id=MjA0Nzgx |archive-date=7 April 2014 |url-status=dead }} Ban Ki-moon demanded that Iran boost global confidence in its nuclear program by "fully complying with the relevant (UN) Security Council resolutions and thoroughly cooperating with the IAEA." Ahmadinejad also declares a one minute of silence in honor of the late Iranian president and prime minister, Mohammad-Ali Rajai and Mohammad-Javad Bahonar that were assassinated in same day in 1981.

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi denounced the Syrian government, an ally of Iran, calling it "oppressive" and said that it was an "ethical duty" to support the Syrian revolt against the Bashar al-Assad government.{{cite web | url=http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=283179 | title=Syria walks out during Morsy's speech in Tehran | agency=Reuters |work=The Jerusalem Post | date=30 August 2012 | access-date=30 August 2012}} Walid al-Moallem, Syrian foreign minister, walked out in protest, although Mahmoud Ahmadinejad remained seated beside Morsi.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/31/world/middleeast/ban-ki-moon-broaches-delicate-topics-with-iranian-officials.html?pagewanted=all |work=The New York Times | first1=Thomas | last1=Erdbrink | first2=Rick | last2=Gladstone | title=As Iranian Hosts Watch, Egyptian and U.N. Leaders Rebuke Syria | date=30 August 2012}} Morsi called for a peaceful transition to freedom and democracy in Syria.{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/08/20128308579560767.html |title=Morsi criticises Syria at Tehran meeting – Middle East |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=4 October 2011 |access-date=31 August 2012}} Like Iran, Morsi also called for reform in the structure of the UN Security Council. Morsi echoed Iranian calls for a nuclear-free Middle East, and criticized Israel for refusing to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty.{{cite web|url=http://www.albawaba.com/business/morsi-440183 |title=Morsi supports rights of countries for employment of peaceful N-energy |publisher=Al Bawaba |access-date=31 August 2012}} Morsi and Iran also both supported the Palestinian bid for a seat at the UN.{{cite web |url=http://www.namnewsnetwork.org/v3/read.php?id=MjA0Nzgw |title=Egyptian President Calls For Recognition of Palestinian State at Un |publisher=Nam News Network |access-date=31 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407193348/http://www.namnewsnetwork.org/v3/read.php?id=MjA0Nzgw |archive-date=7 April 2014 |url-status=dead }} At the summit Egypt's Mohammed Morsi also handed over the leadership of the body to Iran for the next three years.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.aljazeera.com/blog/middle-east/non-aligned-movement-or-just-unaligned |title=Non-aligned movement or just unaligned? – Al Jazeera Blogs |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=31 August 2012}}

Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, called for a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Syria and pledged support for the Palestinian movement. He also called for reform in the UN Security Council, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.{{cite web|author=FP Staff |url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/come-together-on-syria-reforms-of-global-bodies-pm-tells-nam-436819.html |title=Come together on Syria, reforms of global bodies: PM tells NAM |publisher=Firstpost |date=23 February 2011 |access-date=31 August 2012}} The summit also drew up a draft resolution on ending the Syrian conflict.{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/08/201283112388923333.html |title=UN chief urges Syria to end violence – Middle East |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=19 January 2013}}

The summit's final declaration ratified on 31 August by the 120 members of NAM, emphasizes on the right of all countries to develop and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and notably singles out Iran. In addition, it condemns unilateral sanctions, supports creation of a Palestinian state, advocates nuclear disarmament, human rights free from political agendas and opposition to racism and "Islamophobia". But due to lack of consensus among member states it did not mention to Syria's civil war.{{cite web |url=http://www.timesonline.com/news/world/middle-east/report-nonaligned-bloc-backs-iran-nuclear-energy/article_6f778d47-bf47-541b-9501-46d8970f3586.html |title=Iran urges nonaligned nations role in Syria - Timesonline.com: Middle-east |website=www.timesonline.com |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904004316/http://www.timesonline.com/news/world/middle-east/report-nonaligned-bloc-backs-iran-nuclear-energy/article_6f778d47-bf47-541b-9501-46d8970f3586.html |archive-date=4 September 2012 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/world/iran-pressed-on-nuclear-activities-wraps-up-summit-8771.html |title=Iran, pressed on nuclear activities, wraps up summit |publisher=Indiatvnews.com |date=1 September 2012 |access-date=19 January 2013}}

At the end of the summit, Venezuela was declared as the host of the 17th summit with the consensus of the member states.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are likely to meet on the margins of the summit to discuss recent developments in India–Pakistan relations and in the region. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon intends to talk with the Iranian leaders about issues such as Iran's nuclear programme, terrorism, human rights and the crisis in Syria.{{cite web |url=http://www.tehrantimes.com/politics/100773-un-sec-gen-confirms-he-will-participate-in-tehran-nam-summit |title=UN sec gen confirms he will participate in Tehran NAM summit |work=Tehran Times |access-date=27 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827013946/http://www.tehrantimes.com/politics/100773-un-sec-gen-confirms-he-will-participate-in-tehran-nam-summit |archive-date=27 August 2012 |url-status=dead}}

India, Iran and Afghanistan agreed to set up a joint working group to discuss the development of the strategically important Chahbahar port in Iran.{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/nam-foreign-secretaries-begin-deliberations-in-teh_795866.html |title=NAM foreign secretaries begin deliberations in Tehran |publisher=Zeenews.india.com |date=26 August 2012 |access-date=31 August 2012}}

At two separate meetings with Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, spokesman Martin Nesirky said that United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for a stop to their threats against Israel, and said that "their verbal attacks on Israel were offensive, inflammatory, and unacceptable."Michelle Nichols, [https://web.archive.org/web/20140407085807/http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFBRE87S12320120829 “U.N.'s Ban tells Iranian leaders to prove nuclear program peaceful”], "Reuters Africa", 29 August 2012[http://thedailynewsegypt.com/2012/08/30/harsh-attack-on-iran-by-un-secretary-general/ “Harsh attack on Iran by UN Secretary General”], "Egypt Daily News", 2012 Ban also said that Iran needed to take "concrete steps to address the concerns of the International Atomic Energy Agency and prove to the world its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes." He further urged Iran to use its influence to help end the Syrian Civil War.{{cite news | url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4274764,00.html | title=UN chief to Khamenei: Stop threatening Israel |publisher=Yedioth Ahronot | author=Cohen, Dudi | date=29 August 2012 | access-date=29 August 2012}} Human rights were also discussed.{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/08/2012829112012545295.html |title=UN chief meets Iran leaders before NAM summit – Middle East |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=31 August 2012}}

In addition, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon criticised Iran for alleged "serious concerns on the human rights abuses and violation[s]" and urged Iran to cooperate with the United Nations to improve its human rights record. Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, who sat next to Ban, was reported by Ynet as having frowned at the remarks.{{cite news | url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4274705,00.html | title=UN chief hits host Iran over human rights |publisher=Yedioth Ahronot | agency=Associated Press | date=29 August 2012 | access-date=29 August 2012}}{{cite web|author=فرستاده شده ۵ ماه قبل |date=29 August 2012 |url=http://balatarin.com/permlink/2012/8/29/3131918 |script-title=fa:بالاترین: انتقاد بان کی مون از وضعیت حقوق بشر در ایران هنگام دیدار با علی لاریجانی اخمو در حاشیه اجلاس غیرمتعهدها |publisher=Balatarin.com |language=Persian |trans-title=Top: Ban Ki-moon criticized the human rights situation in Iran, Ali Larijani, during a meeting on the sidelines of moody non-aligned summit |access-date=19 January 2013}} He also met Syria's PM Wael al-Halaqi and Foreign Minister Walid Muallem and later told a news conference about the meeting that in regards to the violence "the primary responsibility resting on the government to halt its use of heavy weapons. [He] demands for all sides to cease all forms of violence. What is important at this time is that all the parties must stop the violence. All those actors who may be providing arms to both sides...must stop." He further mentioned that he had called on Iran to support his call "and I have a strong assurance from Iran that it will do so." He also met the new UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.

Agence France-Presse claimed that Ban Ki-moon's attacks on Iran and Morsi's support for the Syrian opposition upset Iran's goal of showing the summit as a diplomatic victory for Iran against Western attempts to isolate Iran. A Xinhua commentary qualified the summit as an "important" diplomatic "accomplishment from Iran", having hosted "leaders and delegates of over 100 countries".[https://web.archive.org/web/20120904012446/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-09/01/c_131821761.htm (Xinhua)] The Anti-Defamation League slammed what they called the hate speech of Ayatollah Khamanei's opening remarks, in which he rejected Israel's legitimacy, accused "ferocious Zionist wolves" of committing daily acts of murder around the world, and perpetuated an old anti-Semitic myth of a "Zionist-controlled" media.{{Cite web |url=http://www.adl.org/israel-international/iran/c/ihow/Ahmadinejad-2012.html#.UXHnRivwJhw |title=Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in His Own Words |access-date=20 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904174705/http://www.adl.org/israel-international/iran/c/ihow/Ahmadinejad-2012.html#.UXHnRivwJhw |archive-date=4 September 2013 |url-status=dead}}

In an effort for Iran to prove that its nuclear programme is peaceful, the Foreign Ministry of Iran declared that Iran would arrange for officials from the Non-Aligned Movement to visit its nuclear facilities.{{cite web |url=http://www.namnewsnetwork.org/v3/read.php?id=MjA0MzU5 |title=Nam: Nam Participants Can Visit Iran'S Nuclear Facilities |publisher=Nam News Network |access-date=27 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407195143/http://www.namnewsnetwork.org/v3/read.php?id=MjA0MzU5 |archive-date=7 April 2014 |url-status=dead }} In addition, the mangled remains of three cars in which Iranian nuclear scientists were assassinated stands outside of the event venue, as part of an Iranian campaign to demonstrate that Iran has been a victim of terrorism, which Iran has accused the West as being responsible for.[http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/875ea838-f1c8-11e1-bda3-00144feabdc0.html#axzz24zkWQJor Iran uses summit to reset its image]

The Cultural Heritage, Handcrafts and Tourism Organization announced an opportunity for visiting delegations to make a visit to the exhibition of Persian handicrafts held at Tehran's Milad Tower.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} Visiting nationals from the NAM countries could avail of a tour of Tehran's historic museums, palaces and ancient sites in order to get acquainted with Persian culture and civilisation.{{cite web |url=http://www.tehrantimes.com/component/content/article/100678 |title=Tehran museums ready to receive visitors from NAM summit |work=Tehran Times |access-date=27 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513121243/http://www.tehrantimes.com/component/content/article/100678 |archive-date=13 May 2013 |url-status=dead}}

While it is usual for the UN Secretary-General to attend NAM Summits, the presence of Ban Ki-moon was opposed by the United States and Israel. Haaretz reported that Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu had personally appealed to the secretary-general not to attend this summit and described Iran as "a regime that represents the greatest danger to world peace".{{cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120819/sunday-times-2/ban-in-the-hot-seat-over-nam-in-iran-9133.html |title=Ban in the Hot Seat over NAM in Iran | The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka |publisher=Sundaytimes.lk |date=19 August 2012 |access-date=27 August 2012}} In addition, according to Maariv, the Israeli Foreign Ministry ordered Israel's embassies to encourage their host countries not to attend or to send only lower-level representatives to the summit.{{cite web|author=Barrister Harun ur Rashid |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=246653 |title=Non-aligned Summit: Boost for Iran |work=The Daily Star |date=23 August 2012 |access-date=27 August 2012}}

The government of the United States also publicly expressed displeasure over world leaders attending the summit. U.S. State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said: "We think that this is a strange place and an inappropriate place for this meeting. We have made that point to participating countries. We've also made that point to [the UN] Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. If he does choose to go, we hope he will make the strongest points of concern."{{cite web|author=Firstpost |url=http://www.firstpost.com/world/us-finds-tehran-inappropriate-as-nam-summit-host-420682.html |title=US finds Tehran 'inappropriate' as NAM Summit host |publisher=Firstpost |date=17 August 2012 |access-date=27 August 2012}} Haaretz reported that both the United States and Israel believed that such a visit would break their efforts to isolate Iran from the international community by giving the country a "renewed international legitimacy."{{cite news|last=Shalev |first=Chemi |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-fears-un-chief-s-visit-to-iran-will-undermine-efforts-to-thwart-nuclear-program.premium-1.456746 |title=Israel fears UN chief's visit to Iran will undermine efforts to thwart nuclear program – Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper |work=Haaretz |access-date=27 August 2012}}

Although the US and Israel had urged Ban to boycott the summit, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky confirmed that Ban would attend the summit. He hoped to meet with Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadenijad at the sidelines of the summit to have "meaningful and fruitful discussions" and to "convey the international community's expectations that Iran make urgent progress on issues including the country's controversial nuclear program, terrorism, human rights and the crisis in Syria."{{cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/iran-summit-un-idINL2E8JM4YI20120822 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306162011/http://in.reuters.com/article/iran-summit-un-idINL2E8JM4YI20120822 |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 March 2016 |title=UPDATE 2-U.N. chief to visit Iran in defiance of U.S., Israel |work=Reuters |date=23 August 2012 |access-date=27 August 2012}}{{cite web | author = Staff | url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/despite-israeli-pressure-un-chief-to-attend-summit-in-iran/ | title=Despite Israeli Pressure, UN Chief to Attend Summit in Iran – Ban Ki-moon's Spokesman Says He Is 'Fully Aware of the Sensitivities' of the Visit, But Not to Go to Tehran Would Be a Missed Opportunity |agency= Associated Press |work=The Times of Israel | date=22 August 2012 | access-date=25 August 2012}}

Still, Ban Ki-moon signalled that he would not refrain from criticizing Iran at the summit. At the summit, harsh criticism of Iran's human rights record was levelled by Ban, which caught Iranian officials off guard. Ban criticised Iran in calling the country to "...demonstrate that it can play a moderate and constructive role internationally, [which] includes responsible action on the nuclear program" and "for the sake of peace and security in this region and globally, [urged] Iran to take the necessary measures to build international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear programme." Iranian opposition groups urged Ban Ki-moon to use his attendance at the summit as a way to criticize the Iranian government over its crackdowns on political dissent, such as the house arrest of opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi.

In late August, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad invited Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh to the summit, despite Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas' attendance being contingent on Abbas serving as the sole representative of the Palestinians at the summit,{{cite web|author=Staff|url=http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=282493| title=Ahmadinejad Invites Hamas's Haniyeh to NAM Summit in Tehran|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=25 August 2012| access-date=26 August 2012}} Haniyeh's office said that he would attend the summit, sparking a counter-protest. Fatah's Prime Minister Salam Fayyad condemned the invitation, accused Iran of being "against Palestinian national unity" and said that only his party's representatives were the "sole and legitimate representative" of the Palestinians. Their Foreign Affairs Minister Riyad al-Maliki said that if Haniyeh attends the conference Abbas would not attend and reiterated the stance that it was the only "legitimate Palestinian representative."{{cite web| url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/fayyad-calls-on-haniyeh-not-to-attend-tehran-conference-condemns-irans-invitation/| title=Haniyeh Accepts Iranian Invitation to Attend Non-Aligned Conference – Fayyad Says Hamas Presence a 'Stab in the Back' for National Unity, Calls PA the 'Sole and Legitimate' Representative of the Palestinian People|work=The Times of Israel|date= 25 August 2012|access-date=26 August 2012|author1=Shmulovich, Michal |author2=Ben Zion, Ilan }} The Palestine Liberation Organization also condemned the invitation, saying that "Iran joined the Israeli choir which aims to undermine the Palestinian political system and its elected legitimacies."{{cite web|author=Staff|url=http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20120826133987|title=PLO Blasts Iran over Haniyeh Invitation|work=Saudi Gazette|date=26 August 2012|access-date=26 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828022023/http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20120826133987|archive-date=28 August 2012|url-status=dead}}

However, on 26 August, news agencies Mehr and ISNA said that it had not invited Haniyeh. Mohammad Reza Forqani, the spokesman for the summit, said: "Only [Palestinian President] Mahmoud Abbas has been invited to the NAM summit."{{cite web|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-64877-Hamas-not-invited-to-Non-Aligned-summit-|title=Hamas not invited to Non-Aligned summit|work=The News|date=19 August 2012|access-date=27 August 2012}}

On the other hand, on 26 August, a source close to Hamas declared "After intense consultations in the last few hours, a decision was taken not to attend the NAM summit that will take place in Tehran at the end of this month."{{cite web |title=Haniyeh Won’t Attend NAM Summit in Tehran |url=https://archive.almanar.com.lb/english/article.php?id=66331 |website=almanar}} Taher al-Nono, a Hamas spokesman, appropriating Ahmadinejad told this invitation shows Iran's support of Palestine but Haniyeh excused and refrain for attendance in the summit to not intensify disagreements and divides of Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims.http://www.asriran.com/fa/news/229211 – "«طاهر النونو»، سخنگوی دولت حماس در این باره گفت که هنیه برای جلوگیری از دامن زدن به اختلاف‌ها و شکاف‌های فلسطینی و عربی و اسلامی از حضور در نشست تهران عذر خواهی کرد.

النونو با تشکر و تقدیر از دعوت محمود احمدی نژاد، رئیس جمهوری ایران برای حضور در این اجلاس، این اقدام تهران را نشان دهنده ادامه حمایت جمهوری اسلامی ایران از قضیه فلسطینی دانست."

File:Meeting of the heads of state at the 16th summit of the NAM (3).jpg

Iranian state media has been heavily criticized for distorting part of Egyptian President Morsi's speech at the summit.{{cite web | url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/08/31/235311.html | title=Iran state media under fire over distortion of Mursi's speech |publisher=Al Arabiya | date=31 August 2012 | access-date=31 August 2012 | author=Al-Zahid, Masoud | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901033604/http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/08/31/235311.html | archive-date=1 September 2012 | url-status=dead}}

On 30 August 2012, during the summit, some Iranian media outlets reported that official Iranian stations were deceiving Iranians by tampering with the Persian translation of Egyptian President Morsi's speech, in order to fit the Iranian government's rhetoric – namely, opposing criticism of the Assad government in Syria, an ally of Iran. Iranian official state television refused to translate part of Morsi's speech which criticized Syria. One outlet reported that the Iranian interpreter translated part of Morsi's speech which criticized Assad as in fact supporting Assad, saying that "we must support the ruling regime in Syria." In another case, when Morsi denounced the Syrian government as "tyrannical", the Iranian translator quoted Morsi as saying that "there's a crisis in Syria and all of us must support the Syrian ruling system."{{cite web | url=http://www.tradearabia.com/news/LAW_222482.html | title=Bahrain slams Iran media for speech tampering |publisher=Trade Arabia | date=31 August 2012 | access-date=31 August 2012}}

Jahan News and Asiran, as well as other Iranian outlets, published the tampered speech, and deliberately highlighted parts of Morsi's speech without referring to Morsi's stance on Syria. In other cases, the Iranian translator exchanged the word Syria with Bahrain when discussing countries that have been affected by the Arab Spring, as well as "Islamic Awakening" instead of "Arab Spring." Iranian media activist Ameed Maqdam Maqdam reported that this could not have happened unless the translator received orders from Iranian higher authorities, aiming to deceive Iranian public opinion.{{cite news | url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4275363,00.html | title=Iran: Persian interpreter tampers with Morsi's NAM speech |publisher=Yedioth Ahronot | date=31 August 2012 | access-date=31 August 2012 | author=Kais, Roi| newspaper=Ynetnews }}

In addition, Iranian media confirmed changes to speeches delivered by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and United Nations General Assembly President Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser and apologies to the people.

As a result, Bahrain criticized the Iranian media for distorting Morsi's speech, and for replacing "Syria" with "Bahrain."

• Sixty-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120828205148/http://www.namnewsnetwork.org/v3/cat.php?reg=MTAx 16th NAM Summit] NAM news agency
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120829054453/http://www.namna.ir/en News agency of 16th NAM Summit]

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