Haley: Iran is the main source of instability in the region

Several members of the United Nations Security Council discussed the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction on Thursday, January 18, regarding the Iran nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, with six world powers. Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, stated during the Security Council meeting that regimes that threaten the world with weapons of mass destruction are also the source of various security challenges. They deprive their people of human rights and fundamental freedoms. They promote regional instability. They provide assistance to terrorist groups and militias. They propagate conflict and disputes that ultimately extend to their own borders. The U.S. Ambassador emphasized that no threat to the nuclear non-proliferation regime is greater than North Korea. North Korea continues to pursue nuclear weapons with impunity, disregarding the repeated resolutions of this council. We will continue to work with our partners in the Security Council to achieve a diplomatic and peaceful solution to this crisis. Haley further stated that the Iranian government is the main source of instability in the world's most unstable region. This regime supports terrorist groups, proxy militias, and the criminal Assad regime. The U.S. Ambassador also noted that this regime provides ballistic missiles in violation of UN arms sanctions. Its proxy forces launch missiles at civilian targets, as we saw when Houthi militants fired an Iranian-provided missile at an airport in Riyadh. The Iranian regime has repeatedly violated these prohibitions, demonstrating that it is not worthy of our trust and confidence. Iran has confirmed its support for the Houthis but denies transferring weapons to them. Meanwhile, Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, stated for the first time two months ago that his country provides 'advisory assistance' to Yemen. The U.S. President, who has been a serious critic of the JCPOA since his election campaign, believes that Iran's continued missile activities and the Islamic Republic's regional policies are inconsistent with the spirit of the nuclear agreement. In another part of her remarks, Haley addressed the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government. The U.S. Ambassador to the UN stated that the Syrian regime has repeatedly used chemical weapons against its own people. These governmental actions are so corrupt that they are counted alongside ISIS as the only entities that have used chemical weapons as a tool of war in the 21st century. The Security Council must respond to this blatant violation of international law and fundamental humanitarian norms. Ms. Haley also added that one country is preventing the Security Council from fulfilling its duty. That country is Russia. It was Russia that vetoed three resolutions related to renewing the Joint Investigative Mechanism (on the use of chemical weapons in Syria). It was Russia that worked hard to prevent the Assad regime from being held accountable for its actions in the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague. She continued, saying that if the Russian government is serious about the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, it should convince its client, Syria, to destroy its chemical weapons and fully cooperate with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations. Russia vetoed a Japanese-proposed resolution in November to extend the mission of the so-called 'Joint Investigative Mechanism' for one month to identify those responsible for chemical attacks in Syria. This was the eleventh time since 2011 that Russia vetoed resolutions related to Syria. The 'Joint Investigative Mechanism' reported on November 4 that the Assad government was responsible for the chemical attack on Khan Sheikhoun on April 4 of this year, which killed at least 80 people. According to the Associated Press, Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, warned at this Security Council meeting that the failure of the nuclear agreement with Iran due to the actions of the Trump administration carries a warning message for the entire international security structure, including the prospects for resolving the North Korean issue. The U.S. seeks to revise the nuclear agreement with Iran, but Iran has rejected any renegotiation, stating that it will adhere to the JCPOA as long as all signatories to the agreement fulfill their commitments. Meanwhile, Lavrov emphasized in his speech at the Security Council that we cannot abandon a real diplomatic achievement on the international stage due to the interests that some political agendas have for certain countries. The Russian Foreign Minister also stated that if the agreement is set aside and Iran is told to adhere to its commitments under the framework of the agreement, and we reimpose sanctions, then imagine yourself in North Korea's position. According to the French news agency, Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, also stated at this meeting that it is in the interest of the global community to preserve the nuclear agreement with Iran. Carl van Oosterom, the Dutch ambassador to the UN, referred to the nuclear agreement with Iran as an important diplomatic achievement of the international community. Olof Skoog, the Swedish ambassador, also stated at the Security Council meeting on Thursday that the JCPOA is an example of the capacity of diplomacy on the international stage. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump extended the suspension of nuclear sanctions against Iran on Friday, January 12, but simultaneously stated, 'This is the last time I will extend the suspension of nuclear sanctions against Iran, and the flaws in this agreement must be addressed.' He emphasized that he extends the suspension of sanctions with the aim of reaching an agreement with America's European allies to 'fix the terrible flaws in the nuclear agreement,' but 'in the absence of such an agreement, the United States will not extend the sanctions waiver to remain in the nuclear agreement.' Trump added, 'If at any time I determine that such an agreement is unattainable, I will immediately withdraw from the nuclear agreement.' Since Trump took office, Iran's missile activities and regional policies have consistently been criticized by U.S. officials, and America's European allies, despite emphasizing the preservation of the nuclear agreement with Iran, have condemned Iran's missile and regional activities. Nikki Haley, on December 14, displayed remnants of a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis at Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, calling it a 'wake-up call' for the global community and urging action against Iran.