UNITED NATIONS, December 18 2024 - A senior U.N. official urged global powers and Iran to urgently restore the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which lifted sanctions on Tehran in exchange for nuclear restrictions. The call comes amid escalating concerns over Iran's nuclear activities.
The U.S. withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, leading Iran to gradually reduce its compliance with the agreement. U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood emphasized that while diplomacy is preferred, the U.S. is prepared to use all measures to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran.
Recent discussions among European and Iranian diplomats aimed to ease regional tensions, particularly regarding Iran's nuclear program, ahead of the potential return of former President Trump to the White House in January.
U.N. political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating that the success or failure of the JCPOA impacts global stability. Britain, France, and Germany indicated their readiness to reinstate international sanctions if necessary, which could occur before the expiration of the U.N. resolution on the deal next October.
Iran's U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani criticized the potential reinstatement of sanctions, labeling it unlawful and counterproductive, and warned of a firm response from Tehran. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported a significant increase in Iran's uranium enrichment, raising alarms among Western nations.
DiCarlo noted the IAEA's inability to confirm the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program, intensifying the call for renewed diplomatic efforts to address the situation.