Any New UN Ban Would Contradict Commitments Made to Iran

In a letter to the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stressed that any new sanctions or restrictions by the UN Security Council would be against fundamental commitments made to Iran within existing UN resolutions. 
He wrote the letter on the occasion of the anniversary of the United States’ unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal (formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) two years ago, which he described as material breach of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 to which it is annexed, according to the full text of his letter published by the Foreign Ministry. 
Washington also reimposed all US sanctions lifted in connection with JCPOA, representing “significant non-performance” under the deal, according to the foreign minister. 
Since president Donald Trump took office, Zarif said, the US has resorted to unilateral coercive measures and imposed 129 sanctions against Iran, inflicting irreparable harm to Iran’s economy and its international business relations. 
“The council should strongly condemn the US for [re]imposing its illegal sanctions against Iranians in violation of the UN Charter, UNSCR 2231 and international law,” he said, adding that the United States should be held responsible for these damages, and the Iranian nation must be compensated adequately. 
He called on the UN to swiftly address the US responsibility and hold it accountable for the consequences of its wrongful act that flies in the face of the United Nations Charter and international law.
“The impunity of United States in this case and other instances would greatly impair the credibility of the United Nations,” he wrote. 

Uncontrollable Circumstances

Zarif pointed to recent statements by US officials, indicating an intention to act against UNSCR 2231, saying they are “of grave concern and may lead the situation to uncontrollable circumstances”. 
He was referring to the US campaign to convince UNSC to vote for the indefinite extension of UN arms embargo on Iran that is to expire in October. 
The motion rests on an argument that although the US is no longer part of the nuclear deal, it remains an original participant under the terms of UNSCR 2231, which enshrined it. 
Zarif argued that by withdrawing from JCPOA, the US has lost any right therein based on the fundamental principles governing international relations. 
“UNSCR 2231 was adopted to terminate the sanctions, not to extend the ones that had been imposed by previous resolutions … Any initiation against this background will have serious consequences for the durability and sustainability of the agreed conditions,” he said. 
The foreign minister called upon the international community, particularly Security Council and the Secretary-General, to take all appropriate measures in order to counter these “malicious endeavors” by the US government, which greatly undermine the provisions of UNSCR 2231. 
“The United Nations should uphold its responsibility against the recent provocative actions of the United States.” 
Zarif warned that any new UNSC measure against Iran would be a violation of past agreements and face Iran’s firm response. 
“In such a scenario, Iran’s options, as already notified to the remaining participants of the JCPOA, would be firm and the United States and any entity which may assist the United States—or acquiesce in its illegal behavior—would bear responsibility,” he said.