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Developments regarding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

During the past week, numerous efforts have been taken to preserve and stabilise the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran’s nuclear programme. On December 21, the foreign ministers of the JCPOA signatory states held a videoconference. On December 22, the UN Security Council met to discuss the report of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231. Comments and other materials about these events have been posted on the Foreign Ministry’s website and on the official website of the Permanent Mission of Russia in New York. They set out clearly the main elements of Russia’s position on a topic that is becoming increasingly important and urgent.

The results of the JCPOA ministerial and the UNSC meeting have demonstrated a complete failure of the attempts to overthrow the nuclear deal, prevent its implementation and question the legality of UNSC Resolution 2231. Despite their efforts, our American colleagues have failed to put the clock back and to relaunch the sanctions resolutions that were effective before the JCPOA was signed. They have not managed to restructure the nuclear deal. It has survived and will be gradually implemented. Likewise, UNSC Resolution 2231 remains effective in the form in which it was approved by consensus on July 20, 2015. All countries, including the United States, must comply with this resolution without any ifs and buts, in accordance with Article 25 of the UN Charter.

The path towards implementing the JCPOA will be long and winding. The United States must mend its violations of the Action Plan and UNSC Resolution 2231 and restore the careful balance of interests underlying the comprehensive arrangements, ultimately facilitating Tehran’s full compliance with the JCPOA provisions it has suspended in response to Washington’s subversive activities and anti-Iran sanctions. We believe that Washington’s return to the JCPOA must not be conditioned on any additional requirements or prerequisites.

We hope that progress will be reached in this sphere. We have taken note of Iran’s readiness, regularly confirmed by the leadership, to act in this manner. There is the political will and enough room for collective efforts towards implementing the 2015 agreement.

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