Islamic Republic Accused Again in Security Council; Illegal Missile Testing, Drone Transfer to Russia

Britain, France, and Germany accused the Islamic Republic of ballistic missile testing, transferring drones to Russia, and uranium enrichment. Western powers involved in the nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic accused Tehran on Monday during a six-month Security Council meeting of 'developing and testing ballistic missiles,' 'transferring hundreds of drones to Russia,' and 'enriching uranium to an unprecedented level of 60 percent.' According to the Associated Press, the Islamic Republic and its ally Russia rejected the accusations from Britain, France, and Germany, but the U.S. strongly supported its allies' position. This intense exchange occurred during the six-month Security Council meeting of the United Nations regarding the implementation of its resolution endorsing the 2015 nuclear deal. Amir Iravani and Vasily Nebenzia, representatives of the Islamic Republic and Russia at the United Nations, attributed the current deadlock to the United States' withdrawal from the JCPOA, Western sanctions, and the 'anti-Islamic Republic' stance. Iravani stated that the Islamic Republic is allowed to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while Nebenzia dismissed evidence of the Islamic Republic's drones being used in Ukraine as 'claims.' Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN political chief, emphasized during the meeting that Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, still considers the JCPOA the best available option to ensure the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program and urged Iran to change its course. Representatives from Britain, France, and Germany also stated that Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles are now 22 times the limit set in the JCPOA and have no justification for civilian activities, with the current path bringing the Iranian government closer to nuclear weapons capabilities. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, as a UN nuclear watchdog, the Islamic Republic has violated the conditions specified in the JCPOA, and 60 percent enrichment is close to the level required for weapon production; this is concerning for a country that claims it does not have a nuclear weapons program. Previously, Laura Holgate, the U.S. ambassador to the IAEA, criticized the Islamic Republic's actions that have 'weakened' the agency's efforts to guarantee the peaceful nature of Tehran's nuclear program. The nominee for the position of Deputy Secretary of State stated: the JCPOA is dead. The Director-General of the IAEA warned: do not ignore the nuclear ambitions of the Islamic Republic. According to France Press: Western powers are reluctant to take a hard line against the Islamic Republic. The Islamic Republic's response to the IAEA: there is no commitment to answer all questions. The European Troika: we will not lift sanctions against the Islamic Republic anymore.