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7522nd Security Council Meeting on Non-Proliferation
7522nd Meeting (PM)
Sanctions imposed on Iran under successive Security Council resolutions remained in full effect until the 15-member body received confirmation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that the country had taken a set of nuclear-related actions in accordance with resolution 2231 (2015), the head of the designated sanctions committee said today.
Member States remained obliged to duly implement measures imposed through resolutions 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008) and 1929 (2010) in full with due respect to exemptions set out in resolution 2231 (2015), Román Oyarzun Marchesi (Spain) told the Council in his quarterly briefing as Chair of the 1737 Iran Sanctions Committee.
He welcomed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreed by Iran, the P5+1 (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany) and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on 14 July, and noted that Council resolution 2231 (2015) of 20 July affirmed that the accord marked a fundamental shift in that body’s consideration of the issue.
The report covered the period from 23 June to 14 September, Mr. Oyarzun Marchesi said, during which time the Committee held an informal meeting on 1 September and conducted additional work using the no-objection procedure envisioned by paragraph 15 of the guidelines for the conduct of its work.
On past incidents investigated by the Panel of Experts, the Committee had reached out to Iran on several occasions but had failed to receive comment, he said, reiterating the Committee’s call for a response. The Committee continued to assist international organizations in implementing the relevant Council measures and, in that regard, had received additional information in relation to a proposal for technical assistance to Iran by an international organization, which was under consideration.
The Committee had received one notification from a Member State informing it of its delivery of equipment intended for use in a light-water reactor to the Bushehr nuclear power plant, Mr. Oyarzun Marchesi said. Similarly, it had received notification from a Member State by which it had allowed for payments owed by a designated entity under a contract entered into force prior to its designation to be made from that entity’s frozen funds. In addition, one Member State submitted two reports in accordance with paragraph 17 of resolution 1929 (2010).
Following the adoption of resolution 2231 (2015), the Committee was continuing its constructive dialogue on the steps ahead, he said. In that connection, it had received notification from a Member State informing it of preparatory steps towards establishing stable isotope production at the Fordow facility and removing stockpiles of Iranian low-enriched uranium in return for natural uranium. He encouraged States that had not yet submitted implementation reports to do so as soon as possible.
Following the adoption of resolution 2224 (2015) extending the mandate of the Panel of Experts, the Secretary-General had appointed seven experts. On 28 August, the Panel submitted its programme of work for the new mandate.
Recalling that the primary responsibility for implementing the provisions of the Council’s resolutions rested with Member States, Mr. Oyarzun said the Committee stood ready to facilitate the implementation of those measures.
During the ensuing debate, speakers hailed the agreement as a milestone while emphasizing the need for continuing vigilance by the international community. The Council must play an active role in fully enforcing the accord, which marked an initial stage of the process, the representative of the United States said.
In a similar vein, the representative of New Zealand said Member States had a responsibility to adhere to all sanctions regimes and urged Council members, in particular, to demonstrate leadership in that regard.
Describing the Council as the guarantor of the agreement, which was predicated on scrupulous verification on the ground, the representative of France stressed that it was the best demonstration of what diplomacy was capable of achieving.
Expressing concern that Iran continued to disregard provisions of Council resolutions related to its ballistic missile programme and transfers of conventional weapons and related material, the representative of Lithuania urged that country to provide information requested by the Panel of Experts without delay.
The representative of the Russian Federation said that on the adoption day of the nuclear accord, concerned parties should lift unilateral sanctions in good faith.
Also making statements today were the representatives of China, United Kingdom, Jordan, Malaysia, Venezuela, Nigeria, Angola, Chile and Chad. .
The meeting started at 4:01 p.m. and adjourned at 4:58 p.m.
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