International Groups Back Nuclear Deal

 

“The Security Council today coalesced around a sweeping resolution that endorsed the 14 July agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme, setting out a rigorous monitoring mechanism and timetable for implementation, while paving the way for the lifting of United Nations sanctions against that country.

 

“Unanimously adopting resolution 2231 (2015), the 15-nation body endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signed in Vienna by the five permanent members of the Council, plus Germany, the European Union and Iran.

 

“The Council, through the 104-page text, including annexes that detailed the sanctions-related provisions and listings, requested the International Atomic Energy Agency to undertake verification and monitoring of Iran’s compliance. It reaffirmed that Iran should cooperate fully with the Agency to resolve all outstanding issues. Upon receipt of a positive report from the Agency, the Council would terminate sanctions set out in resolutions adopted between 2006 and 2015.

 

“Furthermore, the Council decided that the resolution’s provisions should, pending confirmation of implementation, expire 10 years after its adoption, and with that, it would remove the Iranian nuclear issue from its agenda. At the same time, the text outlined the process for automatically reinstating the sanctions in the event of non-compliance.”

Click here for the full text of Resolution 2231

 

“The Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Australia, the People's Republic of China, Republic of India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the Russian Federation and the United States of America, on the occasion of the 5th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 6 July 2015, welcomed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) reached on 14 July 2015 between the E3/EU+3 (China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States, with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy) and the Islamic Republic of Iran, to ensure the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.

 

“The Ministers further welcomed the adoption of Resolution 2231 by the United Nations Security Council on 20 July 2015, which endorsed the JCPOA; supported the commitment of states party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to comply fully with their obligations; and recalled the right of states party to the Treaty, in conformity with Articles I and II of the Treaty, to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination.

 

“The Ministers recognised that the E3/EU+3 and Iran have reached an important resolution, which, if fully implemented, would contribute to building confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme and affirmed that the JCPOA reflects a step-by-step approach and includes reciprocal commitments on the part of Iran and the E3/EU+3. Implementation of the JCPOA will begin when the IAEA verifies that Iran has taken all of its “key nuclear-related steps, and the E3/EU+3 takes reciprocal lifting of sanctions. Full implementation of the JCPOA will enable the comprehensive lifting of all UN Security Council nuclear-related sanctions as well as U.S. and E.U national sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear programme.

 

“The Ministers further recognised that if the E3/EU+3 and Iran follow through on the JCPOA, the international community will be able to resolve this significant international security challenge, and to do so peacefully.”

 

 

“U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry joined Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and the Secretary General of the GCC in Doha today, August 3, 2015, to discuss progress and chart out next steps on GCC-U.S. strategic partnership and areas of cooperation announced at Camp David on May 14, 2015. The delegations reviewed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between the P5+1 and Iran, the conflict in Yemen and the necessity of a political solution there based on the GCC Initiative and National Dialogue Outcomes, and discussed regional challenges as outlined below. The Ministers also previewed the agenda for the fifth session of the GCC-U.S. Strategic Cooperation Forum (SCF), to be held in New York in late September.

 

“The Ministers discussed the JCPOA in considerable detail, including its restrictions, transparency, safeguards, access to any declared or undeclared nuclear facility, enforcement mechanisms, and its regional implications. Reiterating the position expressed at Camp David that “a comprehensive, verifiable deal that fully addresses the regional and international concerns about Iran’s nuclear program is in the security interests of GCC member states as well as the United States and the international community,” the Ministers agreed that, once fully implemented, the JCPOA contributes to the region’s long-term security, including by preventing Iran from developing or acquiring a military nuclear capability. The Ministers called for Iran to strictly honor its obligations under the JCPOA and its responsibilities under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

 

“The Ministers reaffirmed the commitments made at Camp David that the United States and the GCC states share a deep and historic interest in the security of the region, including the political independence and territorial integrity, safe from external aggression, of GCC member states. The United States reiterated its commitment to working with the GCC to prevent and deter external threats and aggression. In the event of such aggression or the threat of such aggression, the United States stands ready to work with our GCC partners to determine urgently what action may be appropriate, using the means at our collective disposal, including the potential use of military force, for the defense of our GCC partners.

 

“Expressing concern about recent statements by some Iranian officials, GCC member states and the United States reiterated their opposition to Iran’s support for terrorism and its destabilizing activities in the region and pledged to work together to counter its interference, particularly attempts to undermine the security of and interfere in the domestic affairs of GCC member states, most recently in Bahrain. The Ministers stressed the need for all countries in the region to engage according to the principles of good neighborliness, non-interference, and respect for territorial integrity.”