UNITED NATIONS — A senior United Nations official on Tuesday urged world powers and Iran to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, warning that its success or failure carries global implications as regional tensions rise.
Rosemary DiCarlo, the U.N. political affairs chief, told the Security Council that restoring the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — the deal that traded sanctions relief for restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear program — is essential. “Time is of the essence… The region cannot afford further instability,” DiCarlo emphasized.
The JCPOA, originally agreed upon by Britain, France, Germany, the United States, Russia, China, and Iran, faced a setback when the U.S. withdrew from the agreement in 2018 during Donald Trump’s presidency. Iran has since retreated from its commitments under the deal. As Trump prepares to return to office in January 2025 for a second term, European and Iranian diplomats recently held talks to defuse the growing tensions.
“Though diplomacy is the best option, the United States has also been clear a nuclear Iran can never be an option,” U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood stated, adding that the U.S. was “prepared to use all elements of national power” to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Britain, France, and Germany reiterated in a letter to the Security Council that they are ready to trigger the “snap back” mechanism—reinstating all international sanctions on Tehran—if necessary. “We will take every diplomatic step to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon,” Britain’s Deputy Ambassador James Kariuki affirmed.
Iran, however, warned against such a move. Tehran’s U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani called the snap back threat “unlawful and counterproductive,” stating that any such provocation would be met with a “firm and proportionate response.”
Amid these warnings, concerns have grown over Iran’s nuclear activity. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported this month that Iran is dramatically enriching uranium to 60% purity, close to weapons-grade levels. Western nations contend that such levels of enrichment are unnecessary for any peaceful nuclear program. Iran denies pursuing nuclear weapons, insisting its program remains civilian in nature.
DiCarlo cautioned the Security Council, saying the IAEA could no longer provide assurances regarding the peaceful intent of Tehran’s nuclear activities.