Media Home
UN Web TV
UN PhotoSecurity Council
8695th Security Council Meeting: Non-Proliferation
Resolution 2231 (2015) Facilitator Says Accord at Crossroads, while European Union Representative Cites Efforts to Determine Shared Interests
Iran’s delegate described United States sanctions against his country as “tantamount to economic terrorism”, while a senior United Nations official called for preventing a serious confrontation in the region, as the Security Council considered the milestone 2015 agreement governing Tehran’s nuclear activities.
Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, said the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and Security Council resolution 2231 (2015) are crucial to nuclear non-proliferation, expressing regret over the United States withdrawal from the Plan of Action and Iran’s recent steps to reduce its commitments. Iran has stated that all such steps are reversible and that it intends to remain in the Plan of Action, she reported.
Noting that regional tensions have escalated, she described attacks against oil tankers, a civilian airport and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia. Several Member States have provided divergent views on Iran’s test-firing of ballistic missiles. Having examined the debris of the weapons systems used in attacks in Saudi Arabia, the Secretariat is unable to independently corroborate that the unmanned aerial vehicles or recovered components are of Iranian origin, she observed.
Also briefing the Council, the European Union’s delegate said the bloc lifted sanctions against Iran in line with its obligations under the Plan of Action. He welcomed recent efforts to preserve the agreement, particularly those related to the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges. European Union-led discussions with Iran focus on regional stability and are useful in determining shared interests and concerns, he reported.
Belgium’s representative, speaking in his capacity as Security Council Facilitator for the implementation of resolution 2231 (2015), explained that he held several bilateral consultations with Member States, including Iran, focused on implementation of resolution 2231 (2015), saying that the Plan of Action is at a crossroads.
In the ensuing debate, many Council Members expressed support for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The United Kingdom’s representative said it represents the best means to avert a nuclear-armed Iran, calling the decision by the United States to leave it regrettable. Meanwhile, Iran’s actions are hollowing out the benefits of the nuclear deal and are not all reversible, she observed.
By contrast, the representative of the Russian Federation stressed that Iran’s efforts to draw down its commitments have been done in compliance with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and are all reversible measures. On the other hand, the United States withdrawal from the Plan of Action warrants censure by the international community.
On that point, the representative of the United States said activities carried out by Iran represent a flagrant violation of international law, including the strike against a Saudi oil facility. The United Kingdom, France and Germany agree that only Iran could have carried out those attacks, meaning Iran attacked a sovereign nation from its own territory and the Council must hold it accountable. The United States is open to dialogue but will not sit idly by while Iran seeks to destabilize the region, she warned.
In that context, Iran’s representative described the United States offer of unconditional talks as disingenuous, adding: “Iran does not negotiate under the threat of a sword.” The United States illegally withdrew from the Plan of Action and its application of unlawful sanctions has been extended to other States. “In essence, the United States is punishing them for honouring their international commitments”, he said. Iran is still committed to the agreement; however, unilateral implementation is not sustainable. Consequently, Iran has ceased performing its commitments, designing a step-by-step approach to allow for diplomacy. Iran’s steps are indeed reversible, he said, but the damage inflicted on its people is not.
Also speaking were representatives of Kuwait, France, Dominican Republic, China, Indonesia, Germany, Belgium (in his national capacity), South Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Poland, Equatorial Guinea and Peru.
The meeting began at 3:19 p.m. and ended at 5:31 p.m.
For further details please see SOURCE below.
MEETINGS COVERAGE
Download
There is no media available to download.
