Statement by Ambassador Byrne Nason at the UNSC Briefing on Non-Proliferation

Statement

Thank you Mr. President. I am now speaking in my national capacity.

I would like to thank USG Di Carlo and Ambassador Skoog, for their briefings.

We welcome the Secretary General’s eleventh report on the implementation of Resolution 2231, as well as the Joint Commission’s report on the status of the Procurement Working Group’s decisions. We have taken due note of both reports, and their findings and recommendations.

Ireland remains strongly committed to the JCPOA.

As the three reports before us today make clear, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is an important achievement in multilateral diplomacy and nuclear non-proliferation, and, fully implemented, remains the best way to guarantee the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear programme.

We welcome positive steps over the last six months, including the US withdrawal of its claims of snapback.

We strongly support the ongoing talks in Vienna under the framework of the Joint Commission.  We welcome the commitment of the US to return to the JCPOA, as well as that of all parties to these talks. We hope that these negotiations, under EU Chairmanship, will soon reach agreement on the United States’ return to the JCPOA, and the full and effective implementation of commitments under the JCPOA by all sides, notably a return to compliance by Iran.

It is vital that this opportunity is seized.

Ireland is deeply concerned by actions taken by Iran with regard to their nuclear commitments under the JCPOA. As the IAEA has reported, this includes uranium enrichment up to 60%, installation of new and advanced centrifuges, and the production of uranium metal. We are seriously concerned by these activities, particularly around irreversibility of the knowledge being acquired by such activities. We, once again, urge Iran to fully implement its commitments under the JCPOA.

We are deeply concerned at Iran’s decision to suspend, as of 23 February 2021, the implementation of transparency measures as envisaged in the JCPOA.  It is essential that Iran cooperate fully with the IAEA to ensure the full implementation of all monitoring and verification measures, in particular the Additional Protocol. In this regard, we call on Iran to return to full cooperation with the IAEA without delay. This is important not only to meet their commitments under the JCPOA, but is essential for the international community to have confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.

Mr President, We regretted the decision of the previous US administration to leave the JCPOA, and to impose sanctions. We call on the US to take all necessary steps to facilitate the full and proper implementation of the JCPOA and resolution 2231, including the removal of sanctions. It is important that the Iranian people see tangible benefits from the Plan.

It was intended that the JCPOA would provide space to build trust and confidence between the parties, which might allow cooperation to address other challenges in the region. We also stress that all parties should avoid any actions, including missile launches, that undermine trust and stability in the region. Ireland supports the Secretary General’s call on all States, including those in the region, to support the Plan. 

It is important that we here in New York demonstrate that Resolution 2231 is working as it should. Ireland will continue to support all efforts to this end.

Finally, as I conclude Mr. President, I wanted to offer sincere congratulations to you and your team for a successful Presidency. As a fellow EU Member State, we are proud and offer you a sincere ‘comhghairdeas’, which is congratulations in our native language.

Thank you, Mr. President.

« Previous Item | Next Item »