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STORY: UN / IRAN JCPOA
TRT: 4:09
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 22 DECEMBER 2020, NEW YORK CITY
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, UN headquarters exterior
22 DECEMBER 2020, NEW YORK CITY
2. Multiple screens, participants in Security Council meeting
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Rosemary Anne DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, United Nations:
“Mr. President, we regret the steps taken by the United States when it withdrew from the Plan, as well as the steps taken by Iran to reduce some of its nuclear-related commitments under the Plan. The re-imposition by the United States of all its national sanctions that had been lifted or waived pursuant to the Plan are contrary to the goals set out in the Plan and in resolution 2231. Further, steps taken by the United States not to extend waivers for the trade in oil with Iran and certain nonproliferation projects may have impeded the ability of the Iran and other Member States to implement certain provisions.”
4. Multiple screens, participants in Security Council meeting
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rosemary Anne DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, United Nations:
“Iran has stated its intention to remain in the Plan, and that the steps that they have taken are reversible. It is essential that Iran refrains from further steps to reduce its commitments and returns to full implementation of the Plan. The Secretary-General calls on all participants to work constructively to address their differences within the dispute resolution mechanism outlined in the Plan.”
6. Multiple screens, participants in Security Council meeting
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Rosemary Anne DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, United Nations:
“Mr. President, the Iranian nuclear issue is an important non-proliferation subject, with consequences for regional and global peace and security. In achieving the JCPOA, the concerned countries had shown that their dialogue and diplomacy, supported by a united Security Council, could forge a path to resolving this issue. We hope that these countries and the Council can do so again.”
8. Multiple screens, participants in Security Council meeting
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Olof Skoog, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations:
“The United States can, therefore, not be considered a JCPOA participant State and could not initiate the process of reinstating UN sanctions under the UN Security Council resolution 2231. I also note that the position of the majority of the members of the Council regard the US’ attempt to initiate the process of reinstating UN sanctions under the UN Security Council resolution 2231 having no legal basis.”
10. Multiple screens, participants in Security Council meeting
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Mills, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
“The Security Council has a responsibility to address Iran’s destabilizing behavior and a failure to do so, I fear, calls into question the credibility of this body. A reluctance to act also sends a dangerous message to other rogue actors and despots around the world. Members of the Council must condemn Iran’s behavior that threatens international peace and security, and not reward the regime’s dangerous gamesmanship with economic appeasement.”
12. Multiple screens, participants in Security Council meeting
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Majid Takht Ravanchi, Permanent Representative of Iran to the United Nations:
“By any measure, the US sanctions are illegal, illegitimate, immoral, inhumane and oppressive, and have no designation other than economic terrorism and crime against humanity. Yet, sanctions are only one part of the destructive bullying policies and practices of the United States against my country, which include its systematic Iranophobia campaign, warmongering, military adventurism in the Persian Gulf, interference in our domestic affairs and many other unlawful and provocative actions.”
14. Multiple screens, participants in Security Council meeting
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Majid Takht Ravanchi, Permanent Representative of Iran to the United Nations:
“Iran has paid a heavy price and has done much more than its fair share to preserve the JCPOA. Therefore, no one can expect us to do more. In fact, those JCPOA participants who have for years violated their commitments under resolution 2231 and the JCPOA must bear full responsibility.”
16. Multiple screens, participants in Security Council meeting
UN political chief Rosemary Anne DiCarlo said in achieving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the concerned countries had shown that “their dialogue and diplomacy, supported by a united Security Council, could forge a path to resolving this issue” and hoped that “these countries and the Council can do so again.”
At a virtual meeting of the Security Council today (22 Dec), DiCarlo said the UN regretted the steps taken by the United States when it withdrew from the Plan, as well as the steps taken by Iran to reduce some of its nuclear-related commitments under the Plan. She said, “The re-imposition by the United States of all its national sanctions that had been lifted or waived pursuant to the Plan are contrary to the goals set out in the Plan and in resolution 2231. Further, steps taken by the United States not to extend waivers for the trade in oil with Iran and certain nonproliferation projects may have impeded the ability of the Iran and other Member States to implement certain provisions.”
The UN official said Iran has stated its intention to remain in the Plan, and that the steps that it had taken are reversible. She added, “It is essential that Iran refrains from further steps to reduce its commitments and returns to full implementation of the Plan. The Secretary-General calls on all participants to work constructively to address their differences within the dispute resolution mechanism outlined in the Plan.”
DiCarlo noted that noted that the Iranian nuclear issue is “an important non-proliferation subject, with consequences for regional and global peace and security.”
Olof Skoog, Head of the European Union’s Delegation to the UN, said the JCPOA withstood the pressue over the past years and the remaining participants have demonstrated their conviction and willingness to work diplomatically to preserve the deal. He recognised that Iran continued to fully comply with the nuclear-related provisions for three and a half years, even after the US withdrawal and re-imposition unilateral sanctions. However, Skoog said it was deeply worrying that Iran continues to decrease its nuclear related JCPOA commitments, particularly in regards to its continued accumulation of low enriched uranium in excess of the JCPOA stockpile and enrichment level thresholds, its continued R&D with advanced centrifuges and their ongoing transfer underground, as well as the enrichment activities in Fordow.
Skoog said the US did not attend any of the activities related to the JCPOA since its withdrawal in May 2018 and therefore could “not be considered a JCPOA participant State and could not initiate the process of reinstating UN sanctions under the UN Security Council resolution 2231.” He also noted that “the position of the majority of the members of the Council regard the US’ attempt to initiate the process of reinstating UN sanctions under the UN Security Council resolution 2231 having no legal basis.”
US ambassador Richard Mills said Iranian weapons continue to proliferate in Iran’s immediate region and beyond. He said many Council members continued to ignore or overlook Iran’s disregard for the restrictions that the Council has put in place, including those which the United States has re-imposed through what he called its legitimate snapback process.
He said, “The Security Council has a responsibility to address Iran’s destabilizing behavior and a failure to do so, I fear, calls into question the credibility of this body. A reluctance to act also sends a dangerous message to other rogue actors and despots around the world. Members of the Council must condemn Iran’s behavior that threatens international peace and security, and not reward the regime’s dangerous gamesmanship with economic appeasement.”
Mills said if Iran seeks sanctions relief and economic opportunities, it must cease its nuclear extortion and negotiate a comprehensive deal that includes enduring nuclear restrictions and addresses its development and proliferation of ballistic missiles, as well as deals with its continuing support for terrorism, the unjust detention of its citizens, and its other destabilizing activities in the region.
Iranian ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi said the JCPOA is an agreement coming out of hard-won negotiations involving difficult gives and takes, and any proposal for its revision, renegotiation or extension would be against resolution 2231 and absolutely not acceptable to Iran.
He said by threatening other States to either violate resolution 2231 or face punishment, the US has not only failed to honour its own commitments under the resolution but has also substantively obstructed the implementation of commitments by other Member States.
Ravanchi said, “By any measure, the US sanctions are illegal, illegitimate, immoral, inhumane and oppressive, and have no designation other than economic terrorism and crime against humanity. Yet, sanctions are only one part of the destructive bullying policies and practices of the United States against my country, which include its systematic Iranophobia campaign, warmongering, military adventurism in the Persian Gulf, interference in our domestic affairs and many other unlawful and provocative actions.”
The Iranian ambassador said the steps taken by his country are in full accordance with its rights and commitments under the JCPOA, and are completely reversible, but the damages and sufferings inflicted upon Iran are almost absolutely irreversible.
He said the US imposed over 1,500 sanctions against Iran targeting almost all sectors of Iranian economy representing an all-out economic war. He added that the sanctions prevent the importing of humanitarian goods and medicines, which is drastically hindering Iran's response to COVID-19 pandemic.
Ravanchi said, “Iran has paid a heavy price and has done much more than its fair share to preserve the JCPOA. Therefore, no one can expect us to do more. In fact, those JCPOA participants who have for years violated their commitments under resolution 2231 and the JCPOA must bear full responsibility.”
The ambassador said the policy of intimidation and pressure on Iran does not and will not yield any result, adding that the only way out is to go back to the prompt, full and unconditional implementation of the JCPOA.
