The head of UN political affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the Security Council on developments surrounding an international agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme and implementation of Council resolution which endorsed it.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) set out rigorous mechanisms for monitoring restrictions placed on Iran’s nuclear programme, while paving the way for lifting sanctions against the country.

Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)

• On July 14, 2015, the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States), the European Union (EU), and Iran reached a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to ensure that Iran’s nuclear programme will be peaceful. 

• The United Nations Security Council endorsed the JCPOA signed in Vienna. 

• The JCPOA came into effect on October 18, 2015 and participants began taking steps necessary to implement their JCPOA commitments.

• The JCPOA ensures that Iran’s nuclear programme will be exclusively peaceful in return for the comprehensive lifting of UN, multilateral and national sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear programme.

• The JCPOA is a robust verifiable agreement that sets a series of strict limitations on Iran’s access to nuclear material and sensitive equipment. 

• In addition, the agreement gives the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) unprecedented access to monitor and verify Iran’s programme. 

• The agreement cut off Iran’s pathways to fissile material for a nuclear weapon, while ensuring the vigorous inspections and transparency necessary for verification. 

• The accord was aimed to reduce the number of Iran’s centrifuges by two-thirds and eliminate 98 per cent of its enriched uranium, going from a quantity enough to produce 10 nuclear weapons to a fraction of what was needed for a single nuclear weapon.

• In May 2018, the then US President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the accord, opting for a maximum pressure campaign of stepped-up US sanctions and other tough actions. 

• Iran responded by intensifying its enrichment of uranium and building of centrifuges, while maintaining its insistence that its nuclear development was for civilian and not military purposes. 

• Iran’s moves increased pressure on major world powers and raised tensions among US allies and strategic partners in the Middle East.

Enriched uranium stockpile ‘concerning’

• The IAEA noted that it has lost continuity of knowledge on many aspects of Iran's nuclear programme.

• Furthermore, the IAEA remains unable to verify the stockpile of enriched uranium in the country, a situation that has persisted since February 2021.

• However, it estimated that Iran’s total enriched uranium stockpile is approximately 32 times the amount allowable under the JCPOA.

• This includes increased quantities of uranium enriched to 20 per cent and 60 per cent. Such a stockpile of enriched uranium and level of enrichment remain very concerning.

• The IAEA has also issued two ad hoc reports that describe Iran’s intention to commence previously declared enrichment activities exceeding the JCPOA limits as well as information on activities to increase production of uranium enriched to 60 per cent.

• Against this backdrop, the need for a comprehensive, long-term-solution that would restore the objectives of the Plan has never been greater.

• The US has not returned to the JCPOA, nor has it lifted or waived unilateral sanctions re-imposed in the wake of its withdrawal, and waivers regarding the trade in oil with Iran have not been extended.

• European and Iranian diplomats met late last month to discuss whether they can work to defuse regional tensions, including over Tehran’s nuclear program, before Trump’s return to the White House in January for a second four-year term.

• Britain, France and Germany told the Security Council in a letter earlier this month that they are ready, if needed, to trigger a so-called “snap back” of all international sanctions on Iran to prevent the country from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

• They will lose the ability to take such action on October 18, 2025 when the 2015 UN resolution on the deal expires.

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