Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo today (14 Dec) appealed to the United States to lift its sanctions on Iran as outlined in the JCPOA and called on Iran “to reverse the steps it has taken that are not consistent with its nuclear-related commitments under the Plan,” Reuters reports.
DiCarlo also called on the US to extend waivers regarding the trade in oil with Iran as well as waivers regarding certain civilian nuclear-related activities. She noted that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) “has indicated that Iran has continued its research and development activities related to uranium metal production.” Speaking on behalf of the European Union (EU), Ambassador Olof Skoog said, “our aim remains to negotiate the return of the United States to the Agreement and the resumption of JCPOA commitments by the US and by Iran.” He said, “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 the economic benefits.”
United States Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Council that US President Joseph Biden “is prepared to return to US compliance and to stay in compliance, so long as Iran does the same.” Thomas-Greenfield said, “we are fully prepared to lift sanctions inconsistent with our JCPOA commitments, which would allow Iran to receive the economic benefits of the deal. And we're convinced that, if Iran approaches talks in Vienna with urgency and good faith, we can quickly reach and implement an understanding on mutual return.”
“We cannot, however,” she said, “allow Iran to accelerate its nuclear program and slow-walk its nuclear diplomacy. “ For his part Iran Ambassador Majid Takht-Ravanchi said, “make no mistake. We are not imposing any preconditions or new conditions. We are talking about the same conditions that are embedded in the JCPOA and resolution 2231.
The same conditions that form the very foundations of the JPOA, and the same conditions that resulted in reciprocal commitments of the parties in the JCPOA.” “Without full satisfaction of these conditions,” he added, “the Accord is useless for the Iranian people. We therefore call for the full, timely, unconditional, and verifiable implementation of the JCPOA. No more, no less.” Negotiations on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) concluded on 14 July 2015 by China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, the United States, the High Representative of the European Union (the E3/EU+3) and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
On 20 July 2015, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2231 (2015) endorsing the JCPOA. The United States announced its withdrawal from the JCPOA on May 8, 2018. Ongoing negotiations in Vienna for the resumption of the JCPOA, have not yet yielded results.
