Guterres Report on Iran: Confirmation of Commitment to JCPOA, Concerns over Missile Program

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, in his report to the Security Council, confirmed Iran's commitment to the nuclear agreement and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and emphasized the need to maintain it. The report also urged Iran to address the international community's concerns regarding its missile program. Rosemary DiCarlo, the political deputy to Antonio Guterres, quoted the Secretary-General during a Security Council meeting regarding the resolution related to the JCPOA, stating that the nuclear agreement made by the Obama administration and five other global powers with Iran is 'at a crossroads.' On July 6, DiCarlo referenced the Trump administration's exit from the nuclear agreement and stated that from the perspective of the UN Secretary-General, 'issues that are not directly related to the program should be considered impartially to preserve the agreement and its achievements.' DiCarlo added that the Secretary-General simultaneously urges Iran to pay attention to the concerns raised by members of this organization regarding activities that violate the restrictions and prohibitions of 'Annex B' [Resolution 2231]. DiCarlo's reference is to the annex of the Security Council resolution regarding Iran; in part of 'Annex B' of Resolution 2231, which was issued in support of the JCPOA, Iran is asked to refrain from activities related to ballistic missile programs capable of carrying nuclear warheads for eight years. The nuclear agreement, reached in July 2015, imposes restrictions on Iran's nuclear program and allows international inspectors to verify it, while also lifting sanctions related to nuclear activities. Donald Trump, a staunch critic of this agreement, ultimately withdrew from it for various reasons, including the time limitations of the JCPOA, Iran's activities in the region, and Tehran's missile program. The Trump administration raised concerns that the Islamic Republic 'will be able to achieve the capability to build nuclear weapons even before the end of the agreement' due to the lifting of Iran's restrictions after the time period of the nuclear agreement. On June 7, Trump stated that the U.S. exit from the nuclear agreement with Iran has changed the behavior of the Islamic Republic in the region. Trump said, 'Iran is no longer like it was a few months ago. Their leaders have changed, and I hope they reach a point where they come to us to negotiate and reach an agreement that is good for them, for us, and for everyone.' On the other hand, Tehran, while criticizing the U.S. exit from the agreement, stated that it is not willing to discuss missile or regional issues while the United States shirks its commitments under the JCPOA. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, on June 20, outlined a list of Tehran's demands from Washington in an article referencing the twelve conditions set by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. European allies of Washington have repeatedly emphasized the need to preserve the JCPOA, but they have also joined the U.S. in criticizing Iran's missile program and its activities in countries like Syria and Yemen. The UN Secretary-General, in a confidential letter to the Security Council at the end of June, stated that an examination of the remnants of missiles fired by Houthi militants at Saudi Arabia since last summer shows that their parts were manufactured inside Iran. He also added that the UN is unable to determine when these missiles, their parts, and technology were transferred to Yemen, and therefore cannot ascertain whether the Security Council resolution in this regard has been violated. DiCarlo emphasized on July 6 that from the perspective of the UN Secretary-General, the remnants of five missiles launched from Yemen to Saudi Arabia since July 2017 show 'key' similarities to the Qiam-1 ballistic missiles, and parts of the launched missiles were also manufactured in Iran. The political deputy to Guterres reiterated that the Secretary-General cannot definitively comment on the transfer of these missiles or their parts before or after January 16, 2016, referencing the time when 'Annex B' was implemented. DiCarlo also informed Security Council members about a report received from Israel regarding the presence of an Iranian drone in Syria. The Israeli army announced on February 10 that its air force shot down an 'Iranian drone' over the Golan Heights, and in response, Israeli fighter jets bombed positions belonging to Iranian forces in Syrian territory. In response to this, the deputy commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard stated, 'We do not confirm any news from Israel. If the Syrians confirm, we will also confirm.' This senior IRGC official emphasized at the time that 'the JCPOA has nothing to do with missile capability' and Iran 'will never negotiate on it.' DiCarlo told the Security Council that the UN Secretariat has not yet been able to test the downed drone, but based on images provided by Israel to this body, there appear to be similarities between the wings of this drone and a drone that Iran unveiled in October 2016. DiCarlo added that the UN Secretariat has no information about the owners and those who control the drones. The UN Secretary-General's report emphasized that the International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement for the twelfth time, and Tehran has voluntarily allowed visits to other sites under the Additional Protocol.