New york: China regrets the United Nations Security Council's failure to extend the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, said a Chinese envoy on Friday. The Security Council did not adopt a resolution, drafted by China and Russia, to extend the nuclear agreement between Iran and the major countries involved, including Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States. This resolution would have also prevented a "snapback" of UN sanctions against Iran.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, expressed deep disappointment regarding the outcome. He emphasized the critical juncture of the current situation and urged all parties to remain calm and restrained, engage in dialogue, and handle the predicament prudently to avoid escalating tensions.
Britain, France, and Germany, the European countries part of the Iran nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), have claimed to have triggered the snapback mechanism on August 28 by notifying the Security Council of Tehran's "non-performance." Under Security Council Resolution 2231, UN sanctions could resume 30 days after such a notification unless a resolution is adopted to prevent this. However, the proposed resolution on September 19 did not pass.
The legality of the European countries' actions has been questioned, as they bypassed the Dispute Resolution Mechanism (DRM) outlined in the JCPOA and Resolution 2231. The DRM allows 35 days to resolve disagreements, and a snapback can only be initiated if the mechanism fails.
Resolution 2231 is set to expire on October 18, 2025, after which the Iran nuclear deal will no longer be considered by the Security Council. Amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza and broader Middle East instability, Geng called on the United States to show political will by responding positively to Iran's proposal to resume talks and to refrain from military strikes against Iran.
China also urged the European trio to abandon sanctions and coercive pressure on Iran. Geng emphasized that returning to negotiations would aid in reaching a political settlement. He called for mutual respect and equal footing in dialogue, encouraging the Security Council to help rebuild trust and bridge differences.
The core objectives of the JCPOA and Resolution 2231 should be preserved. Geng stressed that Iran must honor its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons while other parties should respect Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy use.
As a JCPOA signatory, China remains committed to nuclear non-proliferation and upholding the agreement's authority. Following the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 and the current impasse, China has promoted dialogue and engagement among parties to resolve differences through negotiations.
Geng reiterated China's steadfast commitment to international peace and security and its unwavering political will to resolve the Iran nuclear issue. He stated that China will continue its diplomatic efforts to promote dialogue and cooperation for a comprehensive political solution to the issue.