Ireland Offers to Help Implement UNSCR 2231, Nuclear Deal

Ireland’s top diplomat highlighted his country’s role as an elected member of the United Nations Security Council, declaring Dublin’s determination to do all in its power in this capacity to help preserve Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
“We are ready to play any possible role that could help mitigate the situation and restart talks among all JCPOA members,” Simon Coveney said in a meeting with President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran on Sunday, President.ir reported.
The Irish minister said Dublin places a high value on JCPOA as an international agreement for peace. 
He described the former US president, Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the deal as a “historical mistake”, adding that the new administration is determined to rejoin the agreement.
The nuclear deal has been unravelling since Trump pulled the US out in 2018 and reimposed tough sanctions on Tehran, forcing it to eventually take reciprocal steps and reduce its compliance, although it remained in JCPOA. 
The new US President Joe Biden intends to rejoin the accord, but wants Iran to reverse its remedial steps first, while Tehran insists that all sanctions be removed effectively before it resumes full compliance.
Other parties to the deal, including the European Union, are working to break this deadlock.  
Coveney pointed to the change in the US administration and the American authorities’ tendency to return to the deal, saying the new circumstances have created a suitable opportunity for dialogue and negotiation “which should be used to oblige all members to implement the JCPOA”.  

Catalyst for Consensus-Building  

Ireland took up its seat on Jan. 1 as an elected member of UNSC for the 2021-22 term, and aims to act as “a catalyst for more consensus building”, according to Coveney. 
One of its roles on the UN Security Council is to act as “facilitator” for the Resolution 2231 that endorsed JCPOA. 
“Ireland is a strong supporter of the JCPOA. In our role as facilitator, Ireland is keen to maintain a close dialogue with all actors, and encourage all parties to return to full compliance with the agreement,” Coveney had said in a statement issued prior to his visit to Tehran. 
During the meeting, Rouhani stressed that the nuclear deal would get rolling again only if the US lifts the sanctions on Iran and all parties to the multilateral agreement honor their commitments.
He also deplored Europe’s inaction and failure to meet their own obligations, saying Iran has been committed to JCPOA’s preservation and is the only party that has paid a price for it.
“But this situation cannot continue as it is and the full implementation of UNSCR 2231 by all parties is essential for the revival of JCPOA,” he said. 
The president also reiterated that Iran will resume full compliance as soon as the US lifts the illegal sanctions and abandons the policy of threats and pressures.
Coveney later met his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, and their respective delegations discussed the nuclear deal, bilateral ties and the latest international developments. 
The Irish official was also set to make arrangements for reopening its embassy in Tehran, which had been closed in 2012 due to financial issues.