Introduction

1. On 14 July 2015, 12 years of intense diplomatic efforts and detailed technical negotiations by China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America and the European Union with the Islamic Republic of Iran culminated in the agreement on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which was subsequently endorsed by the Security Council in its resolution 2231 (2015). On 16 January 2016, upon completion of certain actions by the Islamic Republic of Iran (stipulated in the Plan) as verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a decade of United Nations sanctions as well as multilateral and national sanctions related to the nuclear programme of the Islamic Republic of Iran were lifted in accordance with the Plan. As resolution 2231 (2015) came into effect, Member States and regional and other international actors mobilized in support of the resolution and the Plan, which are widely regarded as fundamental to regional and international peace and security, a major achievement in nuclear non-proliferation and in dialogue and diplomacy.
2. It is essential that these diplomatic efforts and hard-won achievements be preserved and built upon. In this regard, I regret that the United States – further to its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on 8 May 2018 – has further decided not to extend waivers with regard to the trade in oil with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and not to fully renew waivers for nuclear non-proliferation projects in the framework of the Plan. These actions are contrary to the goals set out in the Plan and resolution 2231 (2015). These actions may also impede the ability of the Islamic Republic of Iran to implement certain provisions of the Plan and of the resolution. I also note the concerns expressed in the letter dated 23 May 2019 (S/2019/429) from the Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran addressed to me and in the letter dated 11 June 2019 (S/2019/482) from the Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation addressed to me and the President of the Security Council.

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