Joint statement delivered by Ambassador , UK Permanent
Representative to the UN, on behalf of France, Germany and the
United Kingdom.
"Yesterday, in accordance with UN Security Council resolution
2231, the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and my own
country, the United Kingdom, notified the Security Council that
we believe Iran to be in significant non-performance of its
commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
Since 2019, Iran has increasingly and deliberately ceased
performing almost all of its JCPoA commitments.
This includes the accumulation of a high enriched uranium
stockpile which lacks any credible civilian
justification.
In fact, according to the IAEA, Iran is 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.
Despite this, France, Germany and the United Kingdom are making
every effort to resolve this diplomatically.
Most recently, we offered Iran an extension to snapback should
Iran take specific steps to address our most immediate
concerns.
Our asks were fair and realistic: 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, 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, our extension offer
remains on the table.
We hope Iran will take the necessary steps to address the
international community's serious concerns over its nuclear
programme.
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.
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."
