I thank Under Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo, Ambassador Olof Skoog and Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason for their briefings.
As we have heard from many of you today, this is a crucial moment for the Comprehensive Plan of Action; for an agreement that six years ago set to ensure the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program. Estonia has repeatedly emphasized the importance of and its support to the Plan. We continue to consider the JCPOA as a key element in global nuclear non-proliferation architecture and crucial for regional and wider international security.
No doubt, the past few years have been challenging to the agreement. But we have reached now to a new, and hopefully positive, milestone. Similarly to the Secretary-General, we are encouraged by the diplomatic engagements taking place in Vienna since April 2021, offering an opportunity for the United States and Iran to return to the full and effective implementation of the JCPOA and resolution 2231. Indeed, this is a unique moment to preserve and revitalize the agreement that is in the collective security interests of us all. In this regard, it is more important than ever to refrain from actions that further violate and undermine the agreement as well as are counterproductive to the ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Estonia deeply regrets Iran’s decision of 2019 to start reducing its nuclear-related commitments under the Plan. Unfortunately these worrying developments have not stopped even during the Vienna negotiations. As the Secretary-General points out in his latest report, in the recent months Iran has considerably increased its uranium enrichment capabilities and stockpile. These activities present serious nuclear proliferation risks. We urge Iran to stop them and return to compliance with its commitments.
Excellences,
Full cooperation with the IAEA remains crucial in averting the prospect of nuclear-armed Iran. Estonia commends the impartial and professional work of the Agency in verifying and monitoring Iran’s nuclear commitments under the JCPOA. We are concerned about the limits placed on the IAEA’s access to all relevant sites and activities in Iran. The temporary technical understanding between Iran and the Agency expired on 24 June 2021 and so far, we understand, the question of its extension is still open. In order to ensure that the IAEA can fulfil its reporting mandate under the resolution 2231, to retain international community’s confidence in the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear activities, and finally, to seize the opportunity of Vienna talks, the Agency must be granted unimpeded access to all relevant sites and activities in Iran.
Finally, very briefly on annex B of the resolution 2231. We consider Iran developing and testing of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles and related technologies as inconsistent with paragraph 3 of annex B to resolution 2231. We note that several such ballistic missile launches were undertaken during the reporting period and find them destabilizing for the regional security.
Excellencies,
We hope that with the help of a strong political will, the negotiations in Vienna can conclude soon. Estonia believes that a full restoration of the Plan is the best way to uphold the nuclear non-proliferation regime, prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, and eventually bring greater security to the region and to the world.
I thank you.