In the heart of the Pacific Ocean, the small island nation of Palau may be thousands of miles from the Middle East, but its voice resounds with clarity and conscience: “The use of nuclear weapons—anywhere in the world—is a crime against humanity.”

As news broke of the U.S. nuclear missile strike on Iran, Palau, a country that has long championed peace, environmental protection, and international cooperation, joined the global outcry. Its stance is unwavering: the bombing of Iranian cities is not just an attack on one country, but a threat to the survival of humanity.

1. Palau’s History of Anti-Nuclear Advocacy

Palau has one of the world’s strongest anti-nuclear legacies:

• In 1979, it passed the Nuclear Free Constitution, the first of its kind.

• It resisted external pressures to abandon this clause for nearly a decade.

• Palauan leaders have spoken at UN forums, warning of the environmental and moral consequences of nuclear weapons.

Their position today is consistent and powerful: “Nuclear war has no place on Earth.”

2. Governmental Condemnation

Palau’s President and Ministry of State issued a clear statement:

“We condemn in the strongest terms the use of nuclear force against the Iranian people. The world must never again tolerate atomic aggression.”

Palau has called for an emergency UN Human Rights Council session and urged other Pacific nations to speak out as well.

3. Cultural Empathy from Island to Desert

Palauans understand the pain of colonialism, foreign domination, and nuclear threats. The nation has deep historical trauma from World War II, and its people have witnessed the devastating legacy of nuclear testing in nearby islands.

This cultural empathy fuels their solidarity with Iran, whose people now suffer under a different kind of catastrophic force.

In a public address, a Palauan elder said:

“We may live far apart, but we breathe the same air, and nuclear war poisons us all.”

4. Youth Solidarity and Artistic Protest

Palauan youth have organized:

• School projects and art campaigns depicting Iranian cities pre- and post-strike.

• Social media posts using hashtags like #PalauWithIran and #NuclearPeaceNow.

• Speeches in classrooms emphasizing Iran’s cultural richness and the sanctity of life.

Poets and musicians have collaborated on a memorial song blending Micronesian chants with Persian poetic lines in honor of the victims.

5. Regional Call for Justice

Palau is engaging with Micronesian Presidents’ Summit, advocating for:

• A regional condemnation of nuclear attacks

• Pacific-wide support for Iran’s medical needs

• A reaffirmation of the Treaty of Rarotonga (South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty)

Palau’s message to the world: “Island voices matter—and we will not be silent.”

Conclusion

Palau may be a small nation, but it carries a giant heart for justice. Its solidarity with Iran is not rooted in politics, but in principles. Not in alliances, but in ethics. Not in fear, but in courage.

As bombs silence cities, Palau raises its voice in the name of peace.

From the islands to the highlands, a single truth unites us:
Nuclear violence has no justification.
Iran is not alone.