Briefing by Ambassador Skoog on behalf of the HR/VP – United Nations Security Council meeting on Non-Proliferation: JCPOA (Iran)

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Mr President,

Thank you for giving me the floor. It is again an honour to  have this opportunity to address the Council in this session on behalf of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Mr Josep Borrell, in his capacity as Coordinator of the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). 

First I would like to thank the Secretary General Mr Antonio Guterres and his team in the secretariat for their endless dedication and perseverance in their work related to the implementation of resolution of 2231 and in particular the report prepared for today’s discussion.

My second remark of gratitude goes to Her Excellency Ms. Geraldine Byrne Nason (Ireland) in her role as the Facilitator of the Resolution 2231 and the work to keep members informed of the current state of play.

Allow me to briefly set the scene since our last reporting on the matter in last June. As we all know, since April, all JCPOA participants, and the United States, have engaged in intense negotiations in Vienna to bring the JCPOA back on track. The negotiations were paused  on 20 June and eventually a new president and government have taken office in Iran.

During the following five months the EU High Representative, as the JCPOA Coordinator, dedicated significant efforts to impress upon the Iranian side to need to resume the negotiations based on the complex work and hard won compromises already reached until the summer. We held several rounds of consultations in Tehran and in Brussels. We continued close coordination with other JCPOA participants, and with the United States. We welcome the efforts by you all and our partners to support this endeavour and hope to continue working hand in hand to restore the JCPOA.

Negotiations have finally resumed on 29 November in Vienna and the 7^th round is ongoing as we speak. Our aim remains to negotiate the return of the US to the agreement and the resumption of JCPOA commitments by the US and Iran.

We  continue to be convinced that we are much better of with the JCPOA in place. No better alternative exists for the international community to be reassured in a verifiable way that Iran’s nuclear programme is solely dedicated to peaceful purposes and that, through sanctions lifting, Iran can also reap economic benefits.

Mr President,

The EU remains fully committed to the full and effective implementation of the JCPOA and we are determined to continue working with the international community to this purpose. But there is an overwhelming sense of urgency shared by most of the delegations negotiating in Vienna that there was not much time left for negotiations in light of Iran continuing to accelerate its nuclear programme.

Over the last  months, we have noted with great regret and worry that Iran has continued to expand its nuclear activities by accumulating more enriched uranium at 20% and 60%, installing more advanced centrifuges, and producing uranium metal. These activities are not only inconsistent with the nuclear-related provisions of the JCPOA but raise serious non-proliferation concerns, particularly since Iran decided to suspend the implementation of the Additional Protocol and JCPOA transparency provisions as of 23 February 2021 which has substantially decreased the IAEA’s access to relevant information on Iran’s nuclear programme.

Furthermore, Iran’s continued lack of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is a source of grave concern. As the only mandated international body authorised to verify the Iranian nuclear programme, it is in the interest of the entire international community, including Iran, that the Agency has access and continues to received and gather information and knowledge  in order to be able to verify the developments in Iran in line with the provisions of the JCPOA. IAEA monitoring of Iranian commitments under the JCPOA and ensuring continuity of knowledge of Iran’s nuclear programme, is also key for the negotiating process.

We welcome the confirmation by the new Iranian government of Iran’s stated position in the Vienna negotiations that it would stand ready to return to full JCPOA implementation provided conditions are in place for an effective normalisation of its economic and trade relations with the international community.

We recognise that Iran has faced very serious negative economic consequences following the US’s withdrawal from the JCPOA and the re-imposition of previously lifted US unilateral sanctions, which we have deeply regretted. Together with the discontinuation of the granting of nuclear waivers this has hampered the full implementation of the deal.

We therefore  welcomed the political commitment of US President Biden and the US administration to engage in serious negotiations with the view to its possible return to the JCPOA and a full implementation by Iran of its nuclear commitments. And we have taken note of the  US position that would stand ready to return to a mutual compliance with the JCPOA and, in that context, would be prepared to lift all of the JCPOA related sanctions.

Based on this and the positions expressed by the existing JCPOA participants, we call for all sides to be flexible and pragmatic and step up the efforts to accelerate the process to put the JCPOA back on full implementation.  While acknowledging the strong sense of urgency, we need to make sure to preserve sufficient space for the intense ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Mr President,

Let me also recall that the Procurement Channel remains operational. As highlighted in the report of the Secretary General, it remains a vital transparency and confidence-building mechanism. It gives assurances to Member States and private sector actors that transfers of nuclear and dual-use goods and services are fully in line with the Resolution 2231 and the JCPOA.

We furthermore urge all members of this organisation to refrain from actions and statements that increase regional and international tensions that could escalate a military build-up in the region and beyond. The EU has repeatedly urged Iran to desist from activities that could deepen mistrust and which are inconsistent with UNSCR 2231.

EU remains fully committed to multilateral diplomacy that has been successful for several decades. In a similar token, let us not forget that the origins of the JCPOA are firmly anchored in global non-proliferation and is the outcome of effective multilateralism. We have a common interest in making the JCPOA work. Let us do this together. And let us do it swiftly. We do not see any other viable option.

Thank you.