Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York has called on the members of the UN Security Council to prevent the United States from undermining the power of the international body by destroying its multilateral documents.
The US has recently submitted a letter to the 15-member UN Security Council, accusing Tehran of non-compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which is enshrined in UNSC Resolution 2231.
The complaint starts a 30-day process that could lead to a “snapback” of UN sanctions, but 13 council members have already expressed their opposition, arguing that Washington’s move is void, as it is using a process agreed under a deal that it quit two years ago.
“Given that the stated objective of the US is to destroy Resolution 2231 and the JCPOA, Iran trusts that the council members will continue preventing that country from undermining the UN, including the Security Council,” the mission said in a statement on Tuesday, following a UNSC meeting on the Middle East where Russia and China inquired about the issue, IRNA reported.
Indonesia, the council president for August, said in response that it was “not in the position to take further action” because there is no consensus in the 15-member body.
“Today’s deliberations in the Security Council showed once more the US isolation on the JCPOA and Resolution 2231,” the statement read.
Washington argues that it can use the mechanism because the resolution that endorsed the JCPOA still names it as a participant.
Council members have made it clear that the US is no longer a “JCPOA participant” after its withdrawal and has no right to initiate the process.
Russian Stance
Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said during the meeting that he hoped the United States would now drop its bid “which is not only illegal, but simply will not lead to achieving the result that was envisaged by the United States”.
“They [council members] believe that the US has forfeited its right to initiate a process to reimpose Security Council sanctions on Iran, and accordingly, its letter cannot be considered the qualified notification for the purpose of Resolution 2231, thus is void of any legal effect now and in future,” the mission’s statement said.
A spokesperson for the US mission to the United Nations claimed it “is on firm legal ground to initiate the restoration of sanctions” and “the fact that some council members expressed disagreement .... does not have any legal effect”.
US Ambassador Kelly Craft also said, “The Trump administration has no fear in standing in limited company on this matter.”
Tehran’s legal arguments and detailed supporting references are contained in the letter of Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif addressed to the council president that had been issued as a UN Security Council document.
“Iran’s position regarding the US attempt is also quite clear. That letter, including all references therein, are null and void, have no legal standing and effect, and are thus completely inadmissible,” the US mission’s statement said.
