The Islamic Republic of Iran has extended continuous and full cooperation [with international human rights mechanisms]. To this end, a general standing invitation has been forwarded to all thematic rapporteurs, working groups as well as independent experts of the Human Rights Council. … . Also, providing thorough and timely responses to communications which have been delivered by mandate holders has constantly been followed by the Islamic Republic of Iran, in the mentioned field.¹

– Mohammad-Javad Larijani during Iran’s UPR, 15 February 2010

Contrary to Larijani’s public statements, Iran has not allowed any visits from Special Rapporteurs since 2005, despite numerous and repeated requests for visas.

Human Rights Council during Iran's Universal Periodic Review, February 2010

Iran’s standing invitation for all special mechanisms, issued in 2002, coincided with the end of the Iran-specific mandate at the United Nations Human Rights Commission. While Iran has technically agreed to visits by the Special Rapporteurs on extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions and freedom of religion and belief, and the Working Group on enforced and involuntary disappearances, Iranian officials have failed to suggest or agree to dates for their visits. Iran has also failed to respond to formal requests from the Special Rapporteurs on torture and the independence of judges and lawyers, and the Independent Expert on minority issues, for visits to Iran.

Iran explicitly rejected recommendations made during its February 2010 UPR calling for visits by the Special Rapporteur on torture.²

Furthermore, in December 2010, the U.N. General Assembly’s resolution on human rights in Iran noted that Iran “has left unanswered the vast majority of the numerous and repeated communications of [the] special mechanisms.”³

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¹ Human Rights Council, Seventh Universal Periodic Review. opening comments by Mohammad-Javad Larijani, 15 February 2010, http://un.org/webcast/unhrc/archive.asp?go=100215 (accessed 3 February, 2011).
² Human Rights Council, Fourteenth Session, Report of the Working group on the Universal Periodic Review, Addendum, U.N. Doc A/HRC/14/12/Add.1, 3 June 2010, para 92. available at: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR%5CPAGES%5CIRSession7.aspx (accessed 8 February 2011).
³ United Nations General Assembly Resolution, Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. U.N. Doc. A/C.3/65/L.49, 29 October 2010.