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7865th Security Council Meeting: Non-Proliferation
Jeffrey Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, called the accord — agreed on 14 July 2015 by China, France, Germany, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States and Iran — an example of how multilateral diplomacy, political will and perseverance could resolve the most complex issues.
“It will help realize the long-awaited aspirations of the Iranian people to be reconnected to the global economy,” he told the Council during its semi-annual briefing on implementation of resolution 2231 (2015), which endorsed the Plan of Action. Also updating on developments were João Vale de Almeida, Head of the European Union delegation — on behalf of the bloc’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who was Coordinator of the Joint Commission established by the Plan of Action — and Sebastiano Cardi (Italy), in his capacity as Facilitator for the implementation of Council resolution 2231 (2015).
Presenting the Secretary-General’s second report (document S/2016/1136) on the implementation of that text, Mr. Feltman said the Secretary-General had not received any report — nor was he aware of — any open source information regarding the supply, sale or transfer to Iran of nuclear-related items undertaken contrary to the resolution. Nor had he received information regarding Iranian ballistic missile activities or ballistic-missile-related transfers to Iran taken contrary to the resolution.
However, the report outlined details on the seizures of two arms shipments: one by the French Navy in the northern Indian Ocean in March 2016, and another by the Royal Australian Navy off the coast of Oman, in February 2016, both assessed to have originated in Iran. Other concerns centred on a June 2016 statement by the Secretary-General of Hizbullah that that group received its salaries, expenses, weapons and missiles from Iran, and possible ongoing travel violations by individuals on the list maintained pursuant to resolution 2231 (2015).
Mr. de Almeida added that, while progress was undeniable, implementing the Plan of Action would be an ongoing task. The new procurement working group that examined proposals by States seeking to engage in activities with Iran had already reviewed and approved several submissions. Transparency had been a guiding principle, both during negotiations and a cornerstone of the Plan of Action.
Mr. Cardi recalled that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had submitted two quarterly reports on verification and monitoring activities between 16 July 2016 and 15 January 2017. In both, the Agency affirmed that Iran had not pursued construction of its Arak heavy water research reactor on the basis of its original design. Nor had it conducted any uranium enrichment at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant.
In the ensuing dialogue, delegates praised the Plan of Action as a victory for the founding principles of the United Nations. It was essential that all participants adhere to the agreement to ensure its continued success, many said, with Bolivia’s delegate calling it a triumph of multilateralism over unilateralism, and his counterpart from Uruguay expressing strong support as a member of the world’s first nuclear-weapon-free zone.
To scepticism around the use of sanctions, the representative of the United States said those measures had been essential to keeping Iran at the negotiating table until the outcome was achieved. The Plan of Action had demonstrated the “life-and-death importance” of hard-nosed diplomacy. “We achieved something together that none of us could have achieved alone,” she asserted. Japan’s delegate encouraged the Council to use tools such as the Yemen and Somalia Sanctions Committees to obtain relevant information to address cases which might have contravened the provisions of Annex B, on the arms and travel bans.
Yet, Iran continued to play a destabilizing role in the Middle East, some speakers asserted, seen most clearly, said the United Kingdom representative, in its blocking of aid delivery into Aleppo. Iran’s engagement was “misguided” in supplying military and financial support to Hizbullah and the Syrian regime. States should consider whether exporting arms to Iran was in the region’s best interests.
Sharing such concerns, Ukraine’s delegate said it was vital that all parties interact constructively to resolve outstanding issues for the sake of a hard-won non-proliferation deal. Egypt’s delegate added that Iran’s interference in the affairs of Arab States must be addressed and recalled resolutions of the League of Arab States in that regard.
Striking a different tone, the representative of the Russian Federation said the report lacked a request by Iran for the removal of sanctions, and primarily contained references to Annex B, rather than to the entirety of resolution 2231 (2015). He urged the Secretary-General to bolster efforts to examine respect for the entire Plan of Action, stressing that issues raised by non-governmental organizations should also be examined.
Also speaking today were representatives of France, China, Ethiopia, Senegal, Kazakhstan, Italy, Sweden and Germany.
The meeting began at 3:05 p.m. and ended at 5:05 p.m.
