Ambassador Byrne Nason - Statement as Facilitator for Resolution 2231
Statement
30 June 2021Thank you, Mr President,
I am speaking in my capacity as Security Council Facilitator for the implementation of resolution 2231 (2015).
As this is my first briefing as Facilitator, I wish to express my appreciation to Council members for their trust in appointing me to this role. I will do my utmost to support implementation of the agreement in an impartial and transparent manner. I will continue to listen to, and work closely with all Council members as we meet our shared responsibility to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Resolution 2231, and the JCPOA which it underpins. I will continue to maintain an active dialogue with Member States, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, on issues related to the implementation of this resolution.
I would like to thank my predecessor, His Excellency Phillippe Kridelka of Belgium and his team for their outstanding contribution over the previous two years. His efforts, and those of previous Facilitators, provide a strong foundation for our work and decisions going forward.
I would also like to thank the staff of the Secretariat for their invaluable advice and support.
I now come to the eleventh report of the Facilitator.
Mister President,
The report has been approved by all the members of Council. I would like to thank each of you for your constructive engagement in this process, in a spirit of compromise and flexibility.
The report provides a factual account of the activities that took place in the 2231 format, covering the period from 17 December 2020 to 24 June 2021. It includes relevant communications, summarized in my report, as well as key aspects of the workings of the procurement channel.
You may refer to the report for details, but I wish to mention three points in particular.
First, I would like to report that one meeting of the Council in the 2231-format was held during this reporting period.
This was held on 24 June 2021, and representatives of the Security Council for the implementation of resolution 2231 (2015) discussed the findings and recommendations contained in the eleventh report of the Secretary-General (S/2021/582) on resolution 2231 (2015), prior to its public release. Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo has already referred to some of these points in her statement. The 2231-format had an open discussion on the ongoing talks in Vienna in and around the Joint Commission, on ballistic missile launches by Iran, and broader developments related to resolution 2231.
Second, during the reporting period, a total of 35 notes were circulated within the “2231 format”. In addition, I sent 26 official communications to Member States and the Coordinator of the Procurement Working Group of the Joint Commission. I received a total of 26 communications from Member States and the Coordinator.
Among the communications circulated, Mr President, were the two regular
quarterly reports issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in February and May 2021 as well as 19 updates, across the whole reporting period.
I cannot emphasise enough the central, impartial and professional role played by the Agency, as it continues to carry out its verification and monitoring activities in the Islamic Republic of Iran as requested under resolution 2231 (2015).
Also, on 18 February 2021 (S/2021/158S/2020/815S/2020/822S/2020/927), the United States notified the Security Council that it had withdrawn its letters of 20 August 2020 (), 21 August 2020 () and 21 September 2020 (). This made clear the understanding of all Council members that resolution 2231 remains in effect in all its parts.
Third, during the reporting period, only one new proposal has been submitted to, and approved by the Security Council through the procurement channel. This channel represents a key transparency and confidence building-mechanism under the JCPOA. I note that the channel is operational and effective, and join the Secretary General’s encouragement of all participants in the JCPOA, Member States and the private sector to fully support and utilise this channel.
Mr President,
As Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo has recalled, the JCPOA is a major achievement in nuclear non-proliferation. It is a successful example of how we can work together to resolve protracted and difficult issues through dialogue and diplomacy. It remains the best way to guarantee the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear programme.
As the Secretary General has stated in his report, we are in a new environment compared to where we were six months ago. Talks in Vienna offer the prospect of a return to the JCPOA by the US and full and effective implementation of the agreement by all parties. I hope that the talks in Vienna will soon reach a positive conclusion.
We in turn must continue to play our part in demonstrating that Resolution 2231 is working as it should.
In conclusion, Mr President, I underline the call set out in paragraph 2 of resolution 2231 (2015), to all “Member States, regional organizations and international organizations to take such actions as may be appropriate to support the implementation of JCPOA, including by (...) refraining from actions that undermine implementation of commitments under JCPOA.”
Thank you for your attention