Madam President,
I would like to thank Deputy Secretary General Rosemary di Carlo, Ambassador Frazier and Ambassador Skoog for their presentations.
8 years ago, we welcomed with satisfaction the news of the agreement on Iran's nuclear programme. The conclusion of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was rightly seen as an achievement of diplomacy in the service of non-proliferation and regional political détente. In this respect, we are delighted to have been able to host critical stages of the negotiations in Switzerland.
Today, the implementation of the JCPOA is faltering and the situation is more perilous than ever. Switzerland has repeatedly expressed its deep concern about both the withdrawal of the United States from the JCPOA and the various measures taken by Iran, which are incompatible with its nuclear commitments. In particular, Switzerland deplores the fact that despite the willingness shown by most of the parties to negotiate a rapid return to the Plan, no progress has been made in the last six months. The JCPOA is an important element of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and of international security. Consequently, rapid and full implementation by all parties of their obligations is necessary.
Madam President, a "revitalisation" of the PAGC depends on three aspects:
Firstly, the latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency shows progress in overcoming outstanding issues concerning nuclear safeguards and the required monitoring equipment at certain sites. This is a step in the right direction. However, in order to assure the international community that Iran's nuclear programme is indeed peaceful, the Iranian authorities must cooperate rigorously, transparently and unequivocally with the IAEA. Otherwise, the Agency's ability to provide guarantees on the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme remains compromised. This is why Iran's commitments under the JCPOA and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons must be fully respected.
Secondly, we regret Iran's development and testing of ballistic missiles, which are inconsistent with Resolution 2231. We are also concerned by allegations of transfers from Iran of ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles to third countries. We stress that any transfer of items, materials, equipment, goods and technology listed in the 2015 Missile Technology Control Regime is a violation of Resolution 2231, if it has not received the prior approval of this Council. In this regard, we encourage the Secretariat to make full use of its leeway to independently review the information provided and to respond to the invitations for a review on-site.
Finally, the state of the JCPOA reminds us that urgent diplomatic efforts are needed to avoid its complete unravelling. In this regard, we are encouraged by efforts at dialogue both within the region and beyond. We hope that these talks will remind all parties of the interest we all have in resolving the Iranian nuclear issue. To be sustainable, political détente must be accompanied by a return to compliance with the obligations and spirit of the JCPOA.
This Council must give its full attention to the topic. Switzerland, as it has done in the past by hosting negotiations, stands ready to facilitate any diplomatic solution aimed at maintaining the nuclear non-proliferation regime.