UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo. File photo UN calls for dialogue to revive Iran nuclear deal Peace and Security
At a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday, Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo called on the international community to return to diplomatic talks to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a key agreement aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program.
The Iran Nuclear Deal
Recall that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear program was adopted in 2015 as a result of lengthy negotiations with the participation of China, France, Germany, Russia, Great Britain, the United States, the EU and Iran itself. The Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2231 (2015), in which it approved the JCPOA. However, in May 2018, the administration of US President Donald Trump announced its withdrawal from the deal.
Time is running out
DiCarlo stressed that the situation around the agreement continues to deteriorate, and time is running out to resolve the problem. “The United States has still not returned to the JCPOA and has not lifted the unilateral sanctions imposed after its withdrawal from the agreement in May 2018,” DiCarlo said. She noted that Iran has also since retreated from its obligations and continues to build up its nuclear potential.
IAEA Data
According to the latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran has significantly exceeded the permissible levels of enriched uranium stockpiled. “The IAEA reports that its verification activities are ‘severely hampered by Iran’s cessation of compliance with its nuclear obligations,’” DiCarlo stressed. She added that the Agency can no longer guarantee the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program, since it has lost the ability to fully monitor its development.
Of particular concern is Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. “The IAEA estimates that the current stockpile is 32 times higher than the permissible limit set by the JCPOA,” the Deputy Secretary-General said. Moreover, a significant portion of the uranium is enriched to levels of up to 20 percent and even 60 percent, which is significantly higher than the permissible limits.
Searching for a Solution
DiCarlo also reported that the parties to the agreement – the UK, France, Germany on one side, and Iran and Russia on the other – continue to exchange accusations about the reasons for the breakdown of the agreement. However, despite their differences, they declare their readiness for constructive dialogue. “Despite ongoing differences, these states have expressed their commitment to efforts to find a solution,” DiCarlo said. At the same time, she stressed that responsibility for the success of the negotiations lies with both the parties to the agreement and the United States, which had previously withdrawn from it.
The Deputy Secretary-General called on all parties to return to negotiations as soon as possible: “There is little time left. The region cannot afford further instability. A sincere commitment to dialogue and diplomacy is the only way to restore confidence in the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program and to promote stability in the region and beyond.”
In conclusion of her speech, Rosemary DiCarlo recalled that the success or failure of the negotiations will affect the security of the entire world.