Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent
Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on
Iran.
"This year, we will mark 20 years since the Council adopted
Resolution 1737.
20 years during which Iran's nuclear and missile programmes have
been among the most pressing threats to international peace and
security.
The UK has been clear all that time that we favoured negotiation
and diplomacy.
But we have repeatedly seen Iran not act in good faith to address
international concerns.
So I want to start by expressing solidarity with our partners
across the Gulf and the wider region who took no part in the
military action launched on 28 February, but who have been the
target of waves of repeated and unprovoked Iranian missile and
drone attacks over the last week.
We strongly condemn these attacks.
They are endangering civilians, destabilising the region, and
threatening the global economy.
They must stop.
We pay tribute to the swift actions taken by those partners to
protect civilians, including UK nationals.
Their efforts have saved lives.
And we have acted to defend the Gulf, and will continue to stand
by the region in the face of this threat.
This is exactly why the UK co-sponsored, alongside 135 countries,
and voted for Resolution 2817 yesterday.
Today's crisis underlines the gravity of Iran's approach to the
nuclear and missile files.
Our position is clear: we will not overlook actions that
undermine international security or the global non-proliferation
regime.
Iran's reckless and repeated use of ballistic missiles, including
against its neighbours, without provocation, has intensified
regional insecurity and heightened the risk to civilians.
Our concerns about its nuclear programme remain serious and
longstanding.
Iran has persistently failed to fulfil its safeguards obligations
and fully cooperate with the IAEA.
There is no credible civilian justification for over 400kg of
high enriched uranium.
This is unacceptable and erodes confidence in the peaceful nature
of its activities.
It was this sustained nuclear escalation that led the E3 to
trigger the snapback mechanism last year.
We underline the importance of all UN Member States, including
Iran, implementing the reinstated sanctions fully and without
exception.
Resolution 1737 imposes sanctions banning nuclear technology and
materials, imposes asset freezes on key individuals and entities
linked to Iran's enrichment programme, and establishes a
sanctions committee.
These restrictions play a critical role in curbing Iran's
destabilising actions by narrowing its access to the capabilities
that sustain its missile programme, and by constraining Iran's
nuclear proliferation activities.
Effective global compliance is essential for the 1737 Committee
to carry out its mandate.
We encourage rigorous monitoring and reporting, and call for the
swift appointment of a Chair.
The Panel of Experts must be established without delay to
independently investigate alleged violations of sanctions.
We call on those Member States that have sought to evade or
undermine the UN sanctions reinstated under the snapback
mechanism to cease doing so immediately.
This approach only emboldens Iran.
No Member State should, directly or indirectly, undertake or
facilitate any action that breaches or circumvents sanctions, and
all should press Iran to halt its destabilising behaviour.
All Member States have a clear responsibility to fulfil their UN
obligations in full, particularly on an issue as grave and
consequential as this.
President, the United Kingdom remains unwavering in its
commitment to finding a lasting and sustainable solution that
ensures Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon."
