A/HRC/43/12 accused (stipulation of protective mechanisms), as well as the definition and prohibition of torture. 8. The Islamic Republic of Iran had faced serious challenges while working towards the implementation of the recommendations and more generally on the improvement of the human rights situation in the country. 9. The first impediment was the economic sanctions, known as unilateral coercive measures. They thwarted the full achievement of economic and social development and the enjoyment of a number of rights stipulated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other instruments, including the rights to life, health, work and development. 10. The Islamic Republic of Iran condemned terrorism, which it believed led to gross violations of human rights and threatened the political, social and economic development of nations. It considered itself one of the major victims of terrorism and at the same time one of its strongest opponents. 11. As a party to the core human rights instruments, the Islamic Republic of Iran continued to fully participate in international deliberations and activities aimed at the promotion of human rights. The Islamic Republic of Iran had actively cooperated with the United Nations human rights mechanisms, including OHCHR. Two high-level delegations from OHCHR had visited Tehran in 2018 and 2019. The Islamic Republic of Iran had extended formal invitations to the Special Rapporteurs on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, on the right to food, and on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights. Furthermore, an official invitation had been extended to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well. 12. Over the past five years, the Islamic Republic of Iran had continued bilateral human rights and judicial cooperation with a number of countries, including Australia, Brazil, China, Denmark, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Qatar, the Russian Federation and Switzerland. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 13. During the interactive dialogue, 111 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 14. Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, the State of Palestine, Sweden, Switzerland, the Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Belgium, the United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Viet Nam, Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Bhutan, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Myanmar, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal and Togo made recommendations. Mali made a statement. The complete version of the statements can be found in the webcast archived on the United Nations website.1 1 See http://webtv.un.org/search/iran-review-34th-session-of-universal-periodicreview/6101931598001/?term=Iran%20UPR&page=2. 3