Amir Saeid Irabani made a speech on Thursday at a Security Council meeting called the US and France what the Allied states call “inadequate” cooperation with Iran’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The meeting took place after the state held a closed UNSC session a day ago, during which it accused Iran of holding unacceptable levels of rich uranium.
“Washington has publicly declared in its own official document that it would attempt to weaponize the Security Council as part of its strategy to strengthen the economic war against Iran,” he lamented, urging the council and its members to refuse such manipulation and support the principles of international law.
“This is not a legitimate discussion about non-proliferation. It is a blatant political manipulation and a misuse of the Security Council to advance the narrow agenda,” he added.
“Such action sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the reliability of the Council.”
The ambassador continued to further reject the premise of the meeting, highlighting that the issues raised by Washington and its allies had been strictly within the IAEA and had already been addressed in a session of the IAEA Committee in Vienna last week.
The troubleshooting move before the Security Council sought to hamper the ongoing constructive engagement between Iran and the Watchdog, and hampering the continuation of the US so-called “maximum pressure” campaign on the Islamic Republic, according to the envoy.
The campaign began under Donald Trump’s former tenure as US president, strengthened under his predecessor, Joe Biden, and followed up during Trump’s past White House progress.
We have seen the US leave a nuclear agreement between UNSC-approved Iran and others to recognize nuclear weapons, returning illegal sanctions that the contract has been terminated, and strengthening more sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
At the same time, Washington and its allies have been constantly trying to portray Tehran’s nuclear program in a bad light by asserting that the country does not provide legitimate cooperation with the IAEA.
However, the Islamic Republic is the most verified member of the nuclear agency and has been subject to the most comprehensive and frequent verification process for decades.
Allies have also routinely argued that the programme has deviated from “military purposes.”
This is the ban on the pursuit, acquisition and storage of non-traditional weapons by Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Revolution, through the associated fatwa (religious order).
Irabani likewise pointed out that Iran has remained one of the most scrutinized members of the IAEA. “In spite of these facts, certain Western countries, particularly the United States, the UK, France and Germany, are attempting to create false narratives about Iran’s nuclear activities, claiming non-cooperation and military ambitions,” the envoy added.
“Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and it remains the case. We firmly reject weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons,” he says, highlighting the country’s commitment to uncontemptuous disarmament.
The ambassador also highlighted some of the historical context of the Western Allies’ violations.
He reminded us of the US and its European allies of violations of the deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
“It was the United States that unilaterally withdrawn from the JCPOA in 2018 in a direct violation of Security Council Resolution 2231,” the envoy referred to the UNSC resolution that approved the agreement.
“It was the United States that punished the Iranian people and the failure of Britain, France and Germany to maintain their commitment, which was the one that reimposed illegal sanctions and reimposed illegal sanctions,” he added.
After the US withdrawal, the European trio fell under Washington’s pressure by returning an economic ban on Iran and getting every opportunity to step up enforcement measures under unfounded accusations.
The envoy accused the United States of pressured other states to violate resolution 2231, and accused the UK of shying illegal European Union sanctions to domestic law after the expiration of JCPOA restrictions in October 2023.
Despite these provocations, Iran has exercised “strategic patience” over a year since the US withdrawal. Irabani pointed out that Tehran is involved in full compliance with the JCPOA commitment while engaging in diplomatic efforts.
Only after all diplomatic paths had been exhausted could Iran begin a step-by-step, reversible response according to paragraph 26 of the JCPOA.
“Iran is not violating the JCPOA. According to a television report in the press, he declared people who abandoned their commitment (the first and most of all, they abandoned the United States).
Repeated compliance with Iran’s nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) and the IAEA safeguard agreement, Iranian representatives further dismissed claims that Tehran’s nuclear program had deviated from its peaceful nature.
“NPT imposes no limits on Iran’s level of uranium enrichment,” he recalled. “The restrictions that have existed so far were within the JCPOA. This is an agreement that the United States was intentionally blocked.”
The envoy further noted that even with a suspension of JCPOA regulations, Iran’s nuclear program remains under certain IAEA surveillance.
The Iranian representative reiterated that the Security Council should not be exploited by those who violated the resolution, demanding that others protect them. He emphasized that resolution 2231 must be implemented as agreed and expired on the schedule.
At the same time, the envoy reiterated the Iranian authorities’ claim that the country would not engage in negotiations, while the US retains its hostile approach.
Iran will not negotiate under pressure. We do not surrender to the threat. I will not accept instructions. Diplomacy must be based on mutual respect, not on fear,,” he said.
“If there is a path forward, it must start with accountability. For those who abandon their commitments, impose illegal sanctions, and undermine diplomacy,” Irabani argued.
“Iran continues to defend that right. We will continue to endure stricter enforcement.”
MNA