Rosemary DiCarlo, Undersecretary General for Political Affairs and Peacebuilding, addressed the ambassadors Security Council.
The United States has not returned to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as the deal is formally known, has not lifted or waived the unilateral sanctions it reimposed after its withdrawal in May 2018. Washington has also not extended exemptions for oil trade with Iran.
As for Tehran’s policies, the government has not reversed any of the steps it has taken since May 2019 that are inconsistent with its nuclear commitments.
The 2015 JCPOA sets the rules for overseeing Iran’s domestic nuclear program and paved the way for the lifting of US sanctions. It was agreed by Iran, the five permanent members of the Council (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) plus Germany together with the European Union.
Unable to verify
Mrs. DiCarlo too referred to May’s report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in which the nuclear watchdog “reiterated that its verification and monitoring unfortunately continues to be ‘severely affected by the halt in Iran’s implementation of its nuclear obligations under the JCPOA’.”
Although the IAEA has not been able to verify the country’s total stockpile of enriched uranium as of February 2021, ‘it is It is estimated that Iran maintains a total stockpile of enriched uranium thirty times greater than the amount allowed under the JCPOA,” she said.
This includes larger amounts of uranium enriched to 20 percent and 60 percent.
“What a stockpile of enriched uranium and what kind of enrichment remain very worrying” she added.
Check out the dialogue
Later in her briefing, Ms. DiCarlo reiterated the call for JCPOA Plan participants and the US “to pursue all possible avenues for dialogue and cooperation.”
“In the current climate it is crucial to prioritize multilateralism and diplomacyand to chart a course that promotes peace and security,” she stressed.
Iran Nuclear Deal: A Summary
- What is the Iran nuclear deal? The 2015 ‘Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action’ (JCPOA) contains rules for monitoring Iran’s nuclear program, paving the way for the lifting of UN sanctions.
- Which countries are involved? Iran, the five members of the Security Council (China, France, Russia, Britain, the US), plus Germany, together with the European Union.
- What is the involvement of the UN? A UN Security Council solution to ensure enforcement of the JCPOA and ensure that the UN’s atomic energy agency, the IAEA, continues to have regular access to and more information about Iran’s nuclear program, was adopted in 2015.
- Why is the deal in jeopardy? The Trump administration withdrew from the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions. In July 2019, Iran reportedly exceeded its uranium stockpile limit and announced its intention to continue producing uranium stockpiles. enriching uraniumwhich poses a more serious proliferation risk.
