Reply of the Delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran

On Iran’s peaceful nuclear program

At the First Committee

New York, 18 October 2022

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Mr. Chair,

I have to take the floor to exercise my delegation’s right of reply about unacceptable statements by certain delegations about Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.

Mr. Chair,

Unfortunately, certain European countries that have disregarded their obligations concerning the JCPOA and resolution 2231 continue to ignore the underlying causes of the current situation and present a spurious narrative as to why we are here, attributing certain falsehoods and fabrications to my Country.

While Iran’s nuclear commitments were connected to the effective lifting of all sanctions as well as the normalization of Iran's trade and economic relations, the sheer fact is that sanctions are still in place. Furthermore, Iran does not enjoy the economic dividends promised in the deal, let alone the attempts to reopen issues that had been concluded.

Under the JCPOA, other parties are committed, and I quote, “to ensure Iran’s access in areas of trade, technology, finance and energy”, end of quote. Specifically, the United States, in addition to its obligation to lift sanctions against Iran, is explicitly committed to, and I quote, “make best efforts in good faith to sustain this JCPOA and to prevent interference with the realization of the full benefit by Iran of the sanctions lifting”, end of quote.

Let me remind those delegations that in defiance of resolution 2231 and flagrant violation of international law as well as the UN Charter, the United States withdrew from the agreement on 8 May 2018 and re-imposed unilateral sanctions

However, Iran decided to continue honoring its commitments, validated by the IAEA 15 times, after being promised and assured by the European participants of the JCPOA that they would compensate for the losses Iran had suffered.

We are continuing our remedial measures because other parties' non-performance of commitments continues, sanctions remain in full force, the maximum pressure policy is still being pursued and our people's suffering continues. Nonetheless, as soon as other parties fulfill all of their obligations in a complete, effective, and verifiable manner, Iran will immediately reverse all of its steps. However, the suffering of our people as a result of other parties failing to perform their commitments is nearly completely irreversible.

I would like to stress that all of our nuclear activities are entirely consistent with not only our rights and obligations under the NPT but also the IAEA’s safeguards agreement.

We have responded to all of the Agency's questions in a thorough, constructive, and cooperative manner. We have also specified our views on the claims based solely on the erroneous and fabricated information provided by the Israeli regime, which has done all in its power to kill the JCPOA. We reject and condemn any irresponsible and illegal statement as well as actions of this illegitimate regime that besides committing the core crimes of international law, is in total defiance of the regimes banning or regulating both non-conventional and conventional weaponry.   This regime with its dark record of terror and disrespecting any proliferation regime and threat to use nuclear weapons, lacks any moral ground to preach about proliferation. 

Mr. Chair,

On another point, the proliferation risks of the intended transfer of weapon-grade high-enriched uranium and relevant technology to handle and process such material to Australia by the U.S. and UK under the trilateral security partnership known as AUKUS should not be ignored.

I thank you, Mr. Chair.