Diplomacy Decapitated
‘Opportunity for dialogue missed’: Iran rebukes UNSC’s pro-snapback vote
Russia, China, Pakistan, Algeria rap E3 actions as ‘unjustified and illegal’
Iran's ambassador to the UN reacted in the strongest terms to a vote on Friday by the UN Security Council to reimpose sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear program, saying that council “missed the opportunity for dialogue and agreement today.”
Amir Saeed Iravani called the resolution which advanced European-triggered international sanctions on Tehran "hasty, unnecessary and unlawful."
"Today's action is hasty, unnecessary and unlawful. Iran recognizes no obligation to implement it," Iravani told the UN Security Council, describing it as the "politics of coercion."
"This reckless step undermines dialogue without aggression and sets a dangerous precedent," he added. "The E3 (France, Britain, Germany) and the US, in coordination with Israel, are spreading false claims that Iran's nuclear program threatens peace and security."
His remarks came after the Security Council resolution aimed at halting the reimposition of sanctions on Iran failed after weeks of diplomatic talks.
The resolution put forth by South Korea, the current president of the 15-member council, did not garner the support of the nine countries required to halt the series of sanctions from taking effect at the end of the month, as outlined in Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, which is known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Only four countries — China, Russia, Pakistan and Algeria — supported the effort, with some using the meeting to blast the European leaders for an unjustified and illegal action against Iran.
Iravani thanked his four colleagues for voting in favor of lifting the sanctions and rejecting “the blunt instrument of pressure and intimidation.”
“They have chosen to stand on the right side of history,” he said.
Vassily Alekseevich Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the UN, said ahead of the vote that, “Their only goal now is to use the council as a tool for their bad faith play, as a lever to exert pressure on the state in favor of a state which is trying to defend its sovereign interests.”
End to years of diplomacy
The Chinese envoy echoed that sentiment, saying that the council's action on this issue has managed to bring a “definitive” end to eight years of diplomacy with “one stroke.”
British Ambassador Barbara Woodward said the UK remains committed to a diplomatic solution and is ready for further engagements diplomatically in the next week and beyond to seek to resolve differences.
France, Germany and the United Kingdom moved last month to trigger the “snapback mechanism,” which automatically reimposes all UN sanctions that were in effect before the nuclear deal. Those penalties included a conventional arms embargo, restrictions on ballistic missile development, asset freezes, travel bans and a ban on producing nuclear-related technology.
The European parties have accused Iran of non-compliance with its obligations under the JCPOA over its decision to reduce commitments in response to the US withdrawal from the 2015 deal.
Iran argues that the E3 cannot invoke the mechanism as they first violated the agreement by refusing to compensate for the US withdrawal, which prompted Iran to reduce its commitments.
‘Unjustified, provocative’ move
Iran’s Foreign Ministry in a statement described the move by the three European countries as “illegal, unjustified, and provocative”, which severely undermines the ongoing diplomatic processes.
The statement underlined that, “Iran’s peaceful nuclear program is based on the will and determination of the Iranian people for scientific and technological progress and development, and the Iranian nation remains resolute in this path. The Islamic Republic of Iran, while emphasizing the pursuit of its interests and rights — including through diplomatic means — reserves the right to respond appropriately to any illegal action.”
Over the last several weeks, intensified diplomacy between Iran and the European countries had taken place.
German and European Union leaders had warned Iran in a call on Wednesday that it had yet to take the necessary action to stop the reimposition of sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
“What Europeans are doing is politically biased and politically motivated … They are wrong on different levels by trying to misuse the mechanism embedded in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA),” Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Friday.
Khatibzadeh cautioned that, “All options are on the table if diplomacy fails.”
“If Europeans go on this path, they are making the level of unpredictability to the highest level possible, and they are responsible for… any possible future risks,” he declared.