Updated

In a message released Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the fifth International Conference of the Global Coalition Against Scientific Apartheid that scientific justice is essential to peace. Pezeshkian said global justice cannot be achieved without fairness in producing scientific knowledge, access to technology and sharing its benefits, and called for removing discriminatory barriers in the international science system. He described scientific justice as a prerequisite for sustainable development, lasting peace and human security, and warned that restrictions on scientific resources, research infrastructure and advanced technology widen gaps between nations. He condemned sanctions, threats and assassinations targeting scientists and academic institutions, referring to the killing of Iranian scientists during wars he said were imposed by the United States and Israel. He said scientists, regardless of nationality or religion, are an asset to all humanity, and that foreign restrictions could not weaken Iran's resolve to advance its scientific capabilities. He expressed hope that the conference, organized by the Islamic World Peace Forum with Iranian universities and scientific institutions, would produce practical solutions. Separately, senior adviser to the Leader Ali-Akbar Velayati said scientific apartheid is rooted in the international system and power relations, and the state news agency IRNA carried both sets of remarks.