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On Monday, the Western nations involved in the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran alleged that Tehran had breached the agreement by engaging in activities such as developing and testing ballistic missiles, transferring numerous drones to Russia, and enriching uranium to a record high of 60%, despite not having a nuclear weapons program. This goes against a U.N. resolution that supported the agreement.
Iran and its partner, Russia, rejected the accusations made by Britain, France, and Germany, with strong backing from the United States, who withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018.
The goal of the six-party deal was to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. As part of the agreement, Tehran committed to restricting uranium enrichment to levels suitable for producing nuclear energy, in return for the removal of economic sanctions.
During the Security Council’s biannual review of the 2015 nuclear agreement, there were intense debates and discussions.
Both Iran’s U.N. Ambassador Amir Iravani and Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia blamed the United States’ withdrawal from the JCPOA, Western sanctions and an “anti-Iran” stance for the current standoff.
Iravani stated that Iran is permitted to conduct uranium enrichment for peaceful reasons according to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Nebenzia refuted claims of evidence suggesting that Iran was utilizing Iranian drones in Ukraine.
Former President Donald Trump announced his decision to withdraw from the accord in 2018, with the intention of renegotiating a more robust agreement. However, this did not come to fruition. In 2019, Iran started to violate the terms of the agreement and has since reached 60% enrichment, which is considered close to the level needed for weapons production. This information comes from the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is responsible for monitoring nuclear activity for the United Nations.
Negotiations were held in an attempt to devise a plan to revive the JCPOA, but were unsuccessful in August 2022.
During the council meeting on Monday, U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo emphasized that U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres maintains the belief that the JCPOA is the most viable solution for ensuring that Iran’s nuclear program remains solely for peaceful purposes.
She encouraged Iran to change direction, along with the three European nations who released a joint statement citing the IAEA’s report that Iran’s supply of enriched uranium has exceeded the JCPOA limit by 22 times.
The UK, France, and Germany stated that Iran’s nuclear program lacks a valid reason from a civilian perspective. They also expressed concern that the program’s current direction will only bring Iran closer to developing weapons.
European and U.S. Minister Counselor John Kelley emphasized their commitment to utilizing all available methods to hinder Iran’s development of nuclear weapons.
In regards to the future, Kelley informed the council that Iran should take steps to establish trust on an international level and reduce tensions, rather than engaging in nuclear provocations that present serious risks for proliferation.
The speaker stated that the United States is dedicated to addressing the global community’s worries about Iran’s nuclear program through diplomatic means. However, the actions of Iran indicate that this objective is not their main focus.
Iranian official Iravani stated that Tehran has consistently made efforts to revive the JCPOA and is ready to fulfill its commitments under the agreement once it is restored. This will also require the United States and all other involved parties to fulfill their obligations and show sincere political awareness.
Nebenzia stated that the Russian government strongly believes that the JCPOA is the only viable option.
Source: independent.co.uk
