Source: United Nations (video statements)
Informal comments to the media by E3 Ambassadors; Ambassador Barbara Woodward, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom, Ambassador Jay Dharmadhikari, Permanent Representative of France, and Ricklef Johannes Beutin, Deputy Permanent Representative of Germany, on non-proliferation.
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France, Germany and the United Kingdom urged Iran to “take the necessary steps to address the international community’s serious concerns over its nuclear program, reiterating that the triggered mechanism to reimpose international sanctions on Tehran “does not mark the end of diplomacy.”
UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward spoke to reporters today (29 Aug) in New York, together with Ambassadors from France and Germany.
On Thursday (28 Aug), the three countries notified the Security Council that they “believe Iran to be in significant nonperformance of its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action,” Ambassador Woodward said.
She explained, “Since 2019, Iran has increasingly and deliberately ceased performing almost all of its JCPOA commitments. This includes the accumulation of high enriched uranium stockpile, which lacks any credible civilian justification. In fact, according to the IAEA, Iran the only country without nuclear weapons producing high enriched uranium. Iran has stopped providing IAEA access agreed under the JCPOA.”
“Moreover, it has recently significantly reduced the access to nuclear material and sites. It is obliged to provide under the NPT,” the UK Ambassador added.
She noted that her country, France and Germany are “making every effort to resolve this diplomatically,” by offering Iran an extension to snapback, “should Iran take specific steps to address our most immediate concerns.”
“Our asks were fair and realistic,” Ambassador Woodward explained, “Iran’s resumption of negotiations on a comprehensive agreement, Iran’s compliance with its IAEA obligations, and steps to address our concerns regarding the high enriched uranium stockpile.”
However, she said, as of today, “Iran has shown no indication that it is serious about meeting them. It is not implementing its obligations to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency. It has not reengaged in negotiations with the United States with a view to reaching an acceptable diplomatic resolution.”
“Our notification to the Security Council has now triggered a 30 day period. It does not mark the end of diplomacy,” the UK Ambassador highlighted, adding that the extension offer “remains on the table.”
“We urge Iran to reconsider this position to reach an agreement based on our offer, and to help create the space for a diplomatic solution to this issue for the long term. Otherwise targeted UN sanctions focused on tackling Iranian nuclear proliferation return at the end of this 30 day period,” Ambassador Woodward said.
She reiterated, “We remain determined that Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon. While we have been left with no choice but to take this course of action, we remain committed to diplomacy and to the peaceful resolution of threats to global peace and security.”
“There remains a clear diplomatic pathway forward should Iran choose to take it,” the UK Ambassador concluded.