Security Council Facilitator for the implementation of resolution 2231

Speech | 12-12-2018

Thank you very much, Mr. President.

Let me begin by thanking Secretary Pompeo for gracing us with his presence here today and welcoming him to this Council.

Mr. President, I will now be speaking in my capacity as Security Council Facilitator for the implementation of resolution 2231.

Mr. President, in July 2015, the Security Council adopted resolution 2231. Three months later the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, came into effect. This agreement aimed to ensure that the Iranian nuclear programme remains exclusively peaceful.

Resolution 2231 terminated the previous Security Council resolutions on the Iranian nuclear issue and urged full implementation of the JCPOA. It also established specific restrictions in relation to Iran.

This year, as Security Council Facilitator for this resolution, we have aimed to support its implementation. We have built our work on the excellent work of Italy, whom we succeeded as facilitator in the context of our split term on this Council.

We consider three elements to be key to the role as Facilitator and to that of the format:

• First, talks;
• Second, transparency;
• Third, trade.

1. Talks

My first point, on talks. Our ambition has been to facilitate talks about the implementation of resolution 2231.

As Facilitator, we have facilitated such talks:

• Through communication with all parties;
• Through discussion of the Security Council in the “2231-format”, and;
• Through smooth correspondence within the “format”.

On the 10th of December, the Security Council met in the “2231 format”. It discussed the findings and recommendations contained in the sixth report of the Secretary-General on resolution 2231, prior to its public release. Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo already pointed to some of these findings and recommendations in her statement. The “format” had an open discussion on ballistic missile launches by Iran as well as on broader developments related to resolution 2231.

During the reporting period, several Member States sent communications to the Security Council alleging transfers and activities by Iran that fall under the restrictions under resolution 2231. These communications are listed in detail in my report, together with the replies received from the Permanent Mission of Iran.

Iran also has sent several letters in which it has laid out its concerns with the United States’ withdrawal from the JCPOA and the re-imposition of all its national sanctions that had been lifted or waived pursuant to the Plan.

2. Transparency

Mr. President, I would like to now turn to my second point: the facilitation of transparency on the work of the “2231 format”.

Our reports have given a comprehensive overview of the work of the “format” this year, the continued monitoring activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the discussion on activities related to annex B of resolution 2231.

The reports have also included key aspects of the functioning of the procurement channel.

3. Trade

This brings me to my third point, Mr. President, the facilitation of trade, by encouraging use of the procurement channel. This channel reviews proposals by states seeking to participate in or permit certain transfers of nuclear and dual-use goods, technology or services to Iran. 

Since the beginning of 2016, 42 proposals for the Procurement Channel have been submitted by five Member States from three different regional groups. This includes states that are not participants in the JCPOA. On average, proposals were processed in fewer than 50 calendar days.

After the withdrawal of the United States from the JCPOA, 5 additional proposals have been submitted to the Security Council.

The channel is operational and effective, and we encourage all States and the private sector to fully utilize and support this channel.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Mr. President, the unanimous adoption of resolution 2231, which endorsed the JCPOA, marked a fundamental shift of the Iranian nuclear issue.

As Security Council Facilitator for this resolution, we have aimed to support and improve its implementation through the facilitation of talks, transparency and trade.

In this effort, I would also like to thank the Secretariat for their hard work and support this year to both my team as well as to the “format”.

And we would also like to commend the leadership of Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo and the European Union.

As this will be my last Security Council briefing in my capacity as Facilitator, I would also like to wish my successor, Ambassador Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve of Belgium, all the success.

Thank you very much, Mr. President.