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7583rd Security Council Meeting: Non-proliferation
In his quarterly briefing, Román Oyarzun Marchesi (Spain), Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006), presented that body’s report covering the period 15 September to 14 December, noting that the Panel had been investigating an incident reported by a Member State on 27 July. The Panel could not, however, reach a conclusion that the action had been “a wilful violation” on Iran’s part.
He went on to note that, on 11 December, the Panel had submitted an inspection report on Iran’s alleged test-launch of an Emad ballistic missile on 10 October, concluding that it had violated paragraph 9 of resolution 1929 (2010). Further, the Panel was completing another investigation report on an incident reported by a Member State concerning paragraph 13 of resolution 1929 (2010), and also planned to investigate an incident reported on 24 November, concerning paragraph 5 of resolution 1747 (2007).
Those activities, he said, were taking place 90 days after the Council’s endorsement of the 18 October entry into force of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, through its adoption of resolution 2231 (2015). All provisions of resolutions 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008) and 1929 (2010) would remain in force until “Implementation Day”, when Council sanctions against Iran would be lifted and the relevant resolutions terminated.
When the floor opened for discussion, many speakers welcomed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as a “historic” step, with several saying that Implementation Day would mark the start of a “new chapter” in international cooperation. Until that time, all sanctions remained in force.
In that context, the representative of the Russian Federation noted that the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had adopted a resolution on Iran today, closing the dossier on investigations and eliminating all resolutions on that matter. There were no signs of undeclared nuclear material or activities in Iran, which was important for compliance with non-proliferation instruments, he said, adding that that chapter of cooperation was now closed.
However, a number of speakers expressed concern about Iran’s missile launch on 19 October, saying it was a violation that must be addressed. France’s representative emphasized that notification of violations so quickly after acceptance of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action did not bode well, and his delegation supported the accord within a “spirit of caution”.
The representative of the United States said the Council could not allow Iran to feel that it could violate its resolutions with impunity. The United States rejected the notion that countries raising such violations in the Council were responsible for destabilizing the Plan of Action, she said, adding that her delegation would work with partners to ensure that United Nations measures were better enforced. It would seize Iranian arms exports, hold Iran accountable and continue to bring violations to the Council’s attention.
Pointing to another way forward, Chad’s representative pressed the Council to address the development of weapons of mass destruction by States in the Middle East and encouraged the creation of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region. Echoing that point, Chile’s representative underlined the political and legal obligation to establish such a zone.
Also speaking today were representatives of Angola, China, Jordan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Nigeria, Malaysia, Venezuela and Lithuania.
The meeting began at 3:05 p.m. and ended at 4:05 p.m.
