S/PV.7412 Security Council

At this meeting, the Security Council will hear a briefing by Ambassador Mr. Román Oyarzun Marchesi, Permanent Representative of Spain, in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006). I now give the floor to Ambassador Oyarzun Marchesi.

I have the honour to present the report of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006), in accordance with paragraph 18 (h) of the same resolution. The present report covers the period from 18 December 2014 to 23 March 2015, during which time the Committee held one informal meeting, on 4 February, and conducted additional work using the no-objection procedure envisioned by paragraph 15 of the guidelines for the conduct of its work. In view of the recent developments relating to the Joint Plan of Action, the Committee welcomes the commitment of all parties to pursuing negotiations towards a comprehensive agreement. I would like to emphasize that the measures imposed by the Security Council through resolutions 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008) and 1929 (2010) remain in full effect as negotiations between the P5+1 and the Islamic Republic of Iran continue, and that Member States remain obliged to duly implement them. The Committee remains fully committed to the implementation of all relevant resolutions and stands ready to provide guidance to Member States that request assistance. In that respect, while no new incidents have been reported to the Committee during the current reporting period, I would recall that the Committee reached out to the Islamic Republic of Iran for comment on several occasions in relation to incidents investigated by the Panel of Experts. The Islamic Republic of Iran has not yet provided a response and the Committee continues to call on Iran to do so. The Committee continues to assist States and international organizations in implementing the relevant Security Council measures and has finalized its deliberations on a number of such requests. This includes considering requests for guidance covering a range of issues, including whether proposals for technical assistance to the Islamic Republic of Iran in the fields of energy efficiency, refuelling services for aircrafts, and mine action, as well as other cooperation proposals, are permitted by the sanctions measures. The Committee welcomes such collaboration on matters of implementation and compliance, and encourages parties to continue to seek guidance from the Committee on the application of the Council’s measures. The Committee also received two notifications from Member States in accordance with the relevant resolutions. Paragraph 15 of resolution 1737 (2006) and paragraph 4 of resolution 1747 (2007) allow for payments owed by a designated entity under a contract entered into force prior to its designation to be made from that entity’s frozen funds, subject to prior notification to the Committee. The Committee received such a notification from a Member State in accordance with paragraph 15 of resolution 1737 (2006) and paragraph 4 of resolution 1747 (2007). Similarly, a Member State notified the Committee of its delivery of equipment intended for use in a light-water reactor to the Bushehr nuclear power plant, in accordance with paragraph 5 of resolution 1737 (2006). In view of actions taken by Member States to implement the relevant Security Council measures, the Committee encourages States that have not yet submitted reports to do so as soon as possible in recognition that national implementation reports are an important means of promoting the implementation of the sanctions measures. In connection with the Panel of Experts, I am pleased to report that the Committee concluded its consideration of the recommendations contained in the 2014 final report of the Panel of Experts (S/2014/394) on 31 December 2014, in particular in view of any follow-up action by the Committee. The Committee took note of the recommendations and finalized its deliberations on additional information regarding designated individuals, in particular bio-identifiers, in the Committee’s sanctions list. All updates have been made available on the Committee website. The Committee decided that, In the event of a comprehensive solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, it would revert at the appropriate time to the Panel’s recommendation to provide specific guidance to Member States on possible implications for the relevant Security Council measures, once an outcome was known. The Committee received an informal briefing of the Panel’s investigative and outreach activities during its informal consultations on 4 February. As to the activities undertaken by the Panel over the past three months, I note that the Panel has participated in a number of events that are listed in the annex to the report, which has been distributed in the Chamber. Finally, while recalling that the primary responsibility for implementing the provisions of resolutions 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008) and 1929 (2010) rests with Member States, the Committee stands ready to facilitate the implementation of these measures.

I thank Ambassador Oyarzun Marchesi for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to the members of the Council.

I thank Ambassador Oyarzun Marchesi, Permanent Representative of Spain, for his briefing and for his efforts to promote the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006) since the beginning of his chairmanship. China has always attached great importance to and actively participated in the work of the Committee and hopes that, together with the other members of the Committee, we shall continue our good work in a steady, practical and balanced manner. China believes that sanctions in and of themselves are not the purpose of the relevant Council resolution, and that the tightening of sanctions is not the appropriate criterion by which to assess the Committee’s work. The Iranian nuclear talks currently fact a precious historic opportunity. Although the negotiations face many difficulties, the entire international community hopes to see a comprehensive agreement reached by the deadline. This would represent a positive trend and serve the common and long-term interests of all parties. The Committee and the Panel of Experts should therefore discharge their duties in a steady and orderly way, contribute to international efforts to negotiate a solution to this issue, and refrain from any move contrary to the spirit of the resolution that may disrupt the negotiating process. China notes that the Panel is drafting its final report for the current term. We hope that the Panel will act in accordance with the aforementioned principles and work objectively and impartially to produce a good report. Resolving the Iranian nuclear issue through diplomatic negotiations will safeguard the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, contribute to peace and tranquillity in the Middle East, and offer beneficial experience in negotiating solutions to major hot-spot issues. It is therefore of far-reaching significance. On the other hand, the potential impact of the talks far exceeds the talks themselves, and some twists, turns and difficulties in the process are unavoidable. The six parties and Iran recently held intensive consultations and negotiations with a view to meeting the final deadline for the negotiations. The process is now in the final stage of the marathon, and China believes that the negotiations are near the finish line. We hope that the parties will seize this important window of opportunity to strengthen their political will, mobilize favourable factors, continue working to meet each other half way, and make timely political decisions so as to run the last and most difficult kilometre side by side in order, as soon as possible, to reach a comprehensive agreement that is equitable, balanced and mutually beneficial. The parties should persevere, see the process through to the very end, and prevent last-minute failures. China supports the ongoing positive role being played by the International Atomic Energy Agency in resolving this issue. We hope that the Agency will strengthen its cooperation with Iran and gradually resolve the relevant pending issues. China is a responsible party to the talks, has consistently behaved in an objective and impartial way, and has made positive contributions to resolving the difficult key issues in the negotiations. China will pursue its constructive participation in the negotiations and, alongside the other parties, finish the marathon talks on the Iranian nuclear issue as soon as possible, so as to contribute its wisdom and strength to achieving a comprehensive, thorough and long-term solution to this issue.

I should like at the outset to thank the Permanent Representative of Spain for his interesting statement and for all his efforts in leading the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006). I also thank the Panel of Experts for their work in preparing the relevant reports. Jordan is deeply committed to respecting the right of all States to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; that is particularly so for developing countries attempting to promote economic growth. These efforts must be part and parcel of full and complete cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and in accordance with the releveant legal instruments, the Charter of the United Nations and international law, while consistently taking into account the nature and quality of security and safety measures applicable to nuclear installations. Given the emerging possibility of Iran and the P5+1 achieving an agreement on the political framework and main elements of a comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue in the near future, Jordan, alongside the rest of the international community, is eager to receive details of the agreement and implementation measures. If a comprehensive agreement is reached on the Iranian nuclear issue, pursuant to the paramaters set out by the IAEA for the peaceful production of nuclear energy, it would represent a first step in the right direction that we should seize upon to strengthen regional security. We hope that such an agreement will bolster the efforts of the international community to address all the challenges facing the Middle East, in particular in the field of security, and that it will not detract from our consideration of all other dossiers in the Arab region. Moreover, we reiterate the need for the Committee to continue to fully meet its responsibilities to pursue the necessary investigations of violations that have been committed and to maintain a positive commitment, alongside the Iranian authorities, to clarifying all outstanding issues related to past violations. We invite the Iranian Government to respond to the Panel of Experts’s requests for clarification in that respect. Along the same lines, we encourage States that have not yet submitted their reports on the measures taken towards the implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions to do so. We also call upon them to fully cooperate with the Panel of Experts, as the success of the Committee very much depends on those States submitting their reports. In conclusion, we would like to pay tribute to the role of the Committee, which assists Member States and international bodies in implementing the relevant Security Council resolutions by considering requests from Member States concerning Iran’s requests for technical assistance with regard to the provision of energy and aircraft services. We encourage such assistance, as it enables Member States to ensure that they act in conformity with the resolutions of the Security Council.

We thank Ambassador Oyarzun Marchesi for his briefing in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006). New Zealand fully supports the mandate of the Committee. New Zealand joins others in acknowledging the efforts of the P5+1 and Iran in their current negotiations on a comprehensive agreement. New Zealand fully supports that process and hopes that negotiations will be concluded by the agreed deadline. We appreciate the fact that the negotiations are sensitive for the key parties involved, but we trust that those sensitivities will not stand in the way of a comprehensive outcome. New Zealand was encouraged by the briefing to the Security Council provided several weeks ago by the High Representative of the European Union, Federica Mogherini, in which she noted that the parties had “never been so close to what could be a turning point in the history of Iran’s relationship with the West and with the region” (S/PV.7402, p. 7). New Zealand trusts that hope will be realized. For now, however, it is important to remember that the existing sanctions remain in place and that, as the 90-day report notes, States have an obligation to duly implement them. New Zealand is aware of the challenges involved in implementing complex sanctions regimes such as the one set out in resolution 1737 (2006), particularly for small States. At the conclusion of the P5+1 talks with Iran, there will be a need for clear communication with Member States on the implications for the existing sanctions regime. We look forward to working constructively as a member of the Committee to provide guidance to Member States at the appropriate time. Finally, we take the opportunity afforded by today’s briefing to encourage all parties involved in the talks to sustain the commitment and the political will required for a positive outcome.

We would like to thank Ambassador Oyarzun Marchesi, Permanent Representative of Spain, for the briefing on the work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006), which he chairs, for the period under review. I would also like to thank the Spanish delegation for the skilled leadership of that subsidiary body of the Council at this highly sensitive stage. We look forward to further practical and constructive cooperation in the Committee to swiftly settle the situation concerning the Iranian nuclear programme. On 20 March in Lausanne, the most recent full round of talks of the sextet of international mediators with Iranian representatives was held in order to work out a final agreement on a comprehensive settlement of the situation related to the Iranian nuclear programme. The parties continued to seek compromise with regard to solutions to the remaining unsolved issues. It was agreed that the next round of talks would begin on 26 March. In that regard, we would like to note that it is extremely important for all the parties to ensure progress in moving towards a final agreement. It is necessary to produce a document that includes all of the basic principles, for which the parameters for implementation will then be the subject of technical consultations and planning work. We cannot let this opportunity slip away. Of course, the reaching of a settlement and the implementation of the expected agreements will be linked to a thorough review of the sanctions regime currently in force. A discussion of the specific parameters is currently being carried out in the format of the P5+1 and Iran. Another aspect of this issue is also important: several Members of the United Nations, guided by a misguided interpretation of the sanctions agreed in the Security Council are introducing additional unilateral restrictions and limitations outside of the Council, which have no international legal basis to support them. We reaffirm our rejection of such a practice. For our part, we will continue to do everything in our power to definitively and comprehensively bring to a close the issues related to the Iranian nuclear programme, and to relieve Tehran of the sanctions introduced by the relevant resolutions of the Security Council.

I thank the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006) and the Panel of Experts for their continued work in supporting implementation of the Security Council’s resolutions on Iran. I particularly welcome Spain’s leadership on this sensitive issue. We have made progress in recent weeks in the negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme. However, a lot of complex issues remain unresolved. We remain commited to finding a comprehensive agreement, and still believe that is possible. But we will not agree to a bad deal. Iran will need to show greater flexibility and take some tough decisions in the coming days if we are to achieve a deal when talks resume in Switzerland later this week. We are at an important moment in the negotiations. If we are able to resolve the main issues, technical work will follow to convert a political framework into a detailed text. We will continue to work together with our E3+3 partners to ensure a successful outcome. We welcome the unity of purpose shown by our fellow Council members involved in the negotiations, and recognize the important role played by the High Representative of the European Union in the talks. While negotiations continue, the bulk of sanctions, including all United Nations sanctions, and the obligations on Member States arising from Security Council resolutions, remain in place and fully in force. We therefore welcome the notifications from Member States regarding designated entities and the delivery of equipment intended for use in a light-water reactor at the Bushehr nuclear power plant. That report reminds us that we must continue to report any violations in accordance with the requirements set out in the resolutions. Turning to the work of the Committee, we must continue implementation work to enforce the relevant Security Council sanctions measures on Iran. We welcome the Committee’s continued guidance and assistance to Member States and to international organizations. We remain concerned by Iran’s continued failure to respond to previous requests for information on various incidents, including the interdiction of a vessel carrying a cargo of conventional arms in the Red Sea. Once again, we urge Iran to engage with the Committee on such incidents. On the work of the Panel of Experts, we welcome the range of activities carried out in 2014, and in particularly the recommendations set out in the 2014 final report (see S/2014/932) regarding designated individuals, as well as on bioidentifiers and the updated sanctions list. The United Kingdom remains committed to finding a peaceful and lasting negotiated solution to the Iran nuclear issue, and will continue to work closely with our E3+3 partners to achieve that goal.

I would like to thank the Ambassador of Spain for his briefing. We also thank Spain for its leadership of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006) in carrying forward its important work. The Committee’s work has been an integral element of our broader diplomacy. It has helped countries to implement the four rounds of robust United Nations sanctions. With the support of its Panel of Experts, the Committee has investigated sanctions violations and assembled an important and impressive understanding of Iran’s proliferation networks. It has also helped crack down on Iran’s arms smuggling, stemming the flow of weapons in a volatile region. Through its active engagement, the Committee has directly supported ongoing efforts to address international concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme. As we are all well aware, for more than a year, the P5+1 countries have been engaged in a serious dialogue with Iran. Secretary Kerry and our negotiating team met last week in Switzerland with the P5+1 and their Iranian counterparts. Those discussions have identified serious and difficult issues. As President Obama and Secretary Kerry have made clear, we are working to see if we can arrive at a political framework by the end of March that addresses the major elements of a comprehensive deal. But let us be clear — the only reason we are engaging in those negotiations is to deny Iran a nuclear weapon. There are still significant gaps and important choices that need to be made in the negotiations. As we have said many times, no deal is better than a bad deal. The negotiations must find ways to advance our goal of ensuring that Iran does not now, or ever, acquire a nuclear weapon, and that Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful. The Committee must continue its essential work monitoring and improving the enforcement of existing sanctions. Similarly, the Panel of Experts must continue its vital work, investigating violations and following up on leads and clarifying sanctions obligations to Member States. Member States must also continue reporting to the Committee attempted illicit procurement activities in their territories in violation of therelevant Security Council resolutions on Iran. The pace and intensity of the Committee’s work is critical and must continue. After all, responding effectively to violations is at the core of the Committee’s mandate. Any breach of the sanctions is a serious matter, violates international law and undermines the Security Council’s credibility. The Committee’s outreach work — advising Member States, answering questions and ensuring that Member States are well positioned to ensure the full and robust implementation of the sanctions — is of great importance.

We would like to thank Ambassador Román Oyarzun Marchesi for introducing the 90-day report of the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006). We appreciate Spain’s approach in presiding over the Security Council’s non-proliferation committees, through which it has shown decisiveness and political tact. As noted by Ambassador Oyarzun Marchesi in his briefing, the sanctions imposed by the Security Council under resolution 1737 (2006) and the other relevant resolutions remain in full effect during the course of the current negotiations between the P5+1 and Iran. However, sanctions are not an end in themselves, but are merely a tool used within a broader diplomatic strategy aimed at restoring the trust between the international community and Iran with regard to the country’s the nuclear programme. It is essential to maintain the positive atmosphere that has prevailed throughout the negotiations. Council members must contribute to this cause, as it is in everyone’s interest to achieve a broad and substantive agreement that allows Iran to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and the international community to verify that the programme is not for military purposes. Chile takes note of the 19 February report of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). We appreciate the support provided by the IAEA to the activities of monitoring and verifying the voluntary measures referred to in the Joint Plan of Action. Finally, we thank the Panel of Experts for the work it is doing, which is vital to the functioning of the 1737 Committee.

I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting on the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006), the report of which was presented by Ambassador Román Oyarzun Marchesi in his capacity as Chair of that subsidiary body. We would like to extend our appreciation and recognition to Ambassador Oyarzun Marchesi for the work he is doing. We would also like to extend our condolences with regard to today’s plane crash, which has affected dozens of Spanish citizens. Venezuela welcomes the progress that has been achieved with regard to the Joint Plan of Action and the negotiations between the P5+1 and Iran, as well as the commitment of all the parties to continuing the round of negotiations aimed at achieving a broad and final agreement. We encourage all the parties to seize this historic opportunity to set their differences aside and resolve the Iranian nuclear issue in a diplomatic and peaceful manner by reaching a long-term comprehensive solution by consensus. We are pleased to see that the cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency has continued, as noted in the Agency’s laterst report. Venezuela reaffirms the sovereign right of the Islamic Republic of Iran and other developing countries to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in accordance with article IV of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. We believe that the most important task in the next stage of negotiations between the P5+1 and Iran is to build on the positive momentum and to not give way to the provocations of other actors and extremist views, but rather to concentrate instead on trying to resolve the differences on the basis of dialogue and negotiations that will lead to the lifting once and for all of the sanctions regime imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran. We also welcome the fact that the Committee’s report indicates that there were no new incidents reported during the period under consideration. We hope that the diplomatic efforts undertaken in other forums with regard to the implementation of the safeguards related to the Iranian nuclear issue will have a positive effect on the Committee’s work. Venezuela attaches great importance to the efforts undertaken by the international community in favour of disarmament and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We affirm our full support for the strengthening of the international system applicable to these areas through compliance with the obligations under those legal binding instruments. We support the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, as exists in Latin America, in accordance with the decisions adopted with regard to the indefinite renewal of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. In that regard, we call upon the Security Council to make efforts to ensure that all the countries of the region adhere to thit legal instrument. For my country, weapons of mass destruction constitute a threat to international peace and security and, therefore, their elimination is a priority issue for humankind.

I wish to thank Ambassador Román Oyarzun Marchesi for his first report to the Council in his capacity as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006). We are confident that the Committee will benefit from his able guidance during this decisive stage of its work. Lithuania closely follows the intensive diplomatic efforts by the E3+3 and Iran to find a comprehensive solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. The negotiations have now entered a crucial stage, and we hope that the momentum we saw developing in the past few weeks will facilitate an agreement within the time frame set in November 2014. We reiterate that only Iran’s willingness to provide verifiable guarantees to the international community on the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear programme can lead to a successful outcome of the process. That will require flexibility and openness by Iran in bridging the remaining gaps. For its part, the European Union has shown significant goodwill in extending the sanctions relief measures with regard to Iranian crude oil, petrochemical products, gold and precious metals, as well as increasing the thresholds for financial transfers to and from Iran. Iran’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is another vital element in rebuilding the international’s community’s trust. We welcome the IAEA’s conclusion that Iran has been implementing its commitments under the Joint Plan of Action. At the same time, we remain very concerned that cooperation with the Agency under the Framework for Cooperation appears to have stalled. Iran has yet to provide explanations that could enable the Agency to clarify the two practical measures outstanding, and has not proposed further practical measures, despite the Agency’s repeated requests. We urge Iran to cooperate fully with the IAEA on all the outstanding issues, including those related to the possible military dimensions of its nuclear programme, in order to enable the Agency to provide credible assurances of the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran. Turning to the work of the Committee, Lithuania wishes to reaffirm that the Joint Plan of Action does not affect in any way the sanctions measures imposed by the relevant Security Council resolutions. All Council sanctions imposed on Iran therefore remain in full effect, and all Member States have an obligation to implement them. The obligation to cooperate fully also extends to Iran, and we encourage it to engage with the Committee to help facilitate the Committee’s investigations. The work of the Committee’s Panel of Experts in verifying compliance also remains unaffected. In that regard, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Panel of Experts for its work. Lithuania looks forward to to the release of the Panel’s final report and to subsequent discussions in the Committee. Finally, I would like to reiterate Lithuania’s hope that the talks between the E3+3 and Iran will shortly lead to a comprehensive and verifiable solution that will strengthen international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme for the long term.

I would like to thank the Permanent Representative of Spain and Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006) for his briefing and for his astute leadership of the Committee. Nigeria notes that no new incidents were reported to the Committee in the period covered by the report. We commend the Committee for its continued assistance to States and international organizations in implementing the relevant Security Council measures under the 1737 sanctions. Indeed, that aspect of its work remains crucial to maintaining the integrity of the decisions taken by the Council and ensuring that States do not unknowingly violate the 1737 sanctions regime. We encourage States to seek the Committee’s guidance on proposals for technical cooperation with Iran in matters that fall within the Committee’s purview. Nigeria is concerned about the fact that Iran has not responded to the Committee’s requests about two incidents investigated by the Committee’s Panel of Experts. We urge the Iranian authorities to facilitate the Committee’s work by responding to those requests without delay. We commend the Panel of Experts for its efforts, which have made a significant contribution to the Committee’s work. We note that the Committee has concluded its consideration of the recommendations, as reflected in the final report of the Panel of Experts. Nigeria has been following with keen interest the ongoing negotiations between the P5+1 and Iran on finding a comprehensive solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. We support the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. We urge the Iranian authorities to continue to negotiate in good faith with a view to assuring the international community of their peaceful intentions for their nuclear programme. We look forward to the successful outcome of the negotiations, as well as to receiving guidance from the Committee on the possible implications for the relevant Security Council measures in the event that the parties reach an agreement.

We would like to thank the Permanent Representative of Spain for his briefing on the work of the Security Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006) during the reporting period, as well as for his stewardship of the Committee. Malaysia is of the view that all States must adhere to the fundamental principles concerning the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. In order to ensure that those principles are not abused, States must exhibit full transparency in their nuclear programmes, subject those programmes to the full scope of the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), comply with the provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and gain the international community’s confidence and trust in the peaceful nature of their nuclear programmes. In that regard, Malaysia welcomes the progress in the negotiations between the P5+1 and Iran regarding the Joint Plan of Action. We recognize the complexity of the discussions and the contentious issues involved. We also commend the serious and sustained commitment of the parties concerned to moving the process forward. Malaysia hopes that all sides will be able to show flexibility so that the negotiations can culminate in a positive outcome. We look forward to a comprehensive agreement on the basis of realistic and achievable goals that meet the core requirements of all parties, particularly reaching a political agreement by the end of March and completing the technical annexes by the 30 June deadline. Malaysia also acknowledges the measures Iran has taken to build the international community’s confidence through its cooperation with the IAEA. We note that it remains engaged in dialogue with the IAEA and has continued to provide access to its facilities, allowing the Agency to conduct its verification work under the Joint Programme of Action. Against that backdrop, the 1737 Committee has continued to conduct its work in accordance with its mandate, as we heard in the Chair’s briefing on its recent activities. Given that the P5+1 negotiations with Iran are still under way, we share the view that the Committee should remain committed to implementing all the relevant Security Council resolutions. Accordingly, it should continue its important role of assisting the Member States and international organizations that seek its guidance. We trust that it will continue its work on implementation and compliance with a prudent and judicious approach, based on the mandate derived from the relevant resolutions. At the same time, we are seeing heightened levels of anticipation, and perhaps a certain degree of uncertainty, among Member States and the private sector regarding the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the P5+1. There is clearly strong interest on the part of various stakeholders in the immediate implications of the Council’s sanctions on Iran, depending on the outcome of the talks. Looking ahead, we expect there will be a pressing demand for more clarity on the matter in the coming weeks. We recognize the need for greater outreach concerning the continuing validity of the Council’s measures on Iran. At the same time, we also feel that the Committee is reaching a stage where it will narrow its focus in order to deal with a potential political agreement as an outcome to the discussions between the P5+1 and Iran. Malaysia looks forward to working constructively within the framework of the Committee on that important process. I would also like to take this opportunity to briefly touch on the work of the Panel of Experts. We are pleased that the Panel is now back at work with a full complement of experts, and we hope that will be useful, given the expectations that lie ahead. We note that the deadline for the submission of the Panel’s final report will come a few weeks after the P5+1 and Iran are expected to conclude their talks on a political agreement. Given that, we hope the Panel will intensify its work on the final report in the weeks to come by focusing on producing a fact-based assessment and analysis that takes into consideration the implications of the outcome of the talks. Since the Panel’s mandate will expire in July, we also believe that at the appropriate juncture the Committee should consider how to approach the renewal of its mandate in the event of a comprehensive solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. Malaysia, like other Committee members, and indeed the rest of the international community, looks forward to positive developments in the P5+1 negotiations with Iran on its nuclear programme. We anticipate that Member States will soon be referring to the 1737 Committee for guidance on the implementation of the relevant resolutions, based on the outcome of the talks. In that regard, I wish to conclude by underscoring our confidence that the Committee will be able to respond expeditiously and decisively to such scenarios.

I would like to thank the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006), Ambassador Román Oyarzun Marchesi, for the 90-day report that covers the period from 18 December 2014 to 23 March 2015 on the activities of the Committee. Chad takes note of the report and encourages the Committee to continue its activities. Concerning the Iranian nuclear issue, we welcome the talks between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the States members of the P5+1 on the basis of the Joint Plan of Action. We note with regret that previous negotiations did not end in a definitive agreement. Nevertheless, we support the negotiations and call for all parties to be reasonable and come to a political solution as soon as possible. Chad is a peace-loving country and hopes that the diplomatic and political negotiations will achieve a definitive solution. We hope that the bilateral negotiations to be held in Lausanne, Switzerland, through 31 March will finally enable a solid agreement to be reached. Chad recognizes the Islamic Republic of Iran’s right to develop a civilian nuclear programme, and once an agreement has been concluded, the sanctions should be lifted. The Islamic Republic of Iran insists that its nuclear activities are peaceful. In addition, it maintains that it is not engaged in a nuclear arms race because, according to Iran, such weapons are contrary to its way of life and its philosophy. To conclude, I would like to congratulate Mr. Roman Oyarzun Marchesi for his leadership of the 1737 Committee and to wish him good luck over the next two years. I also hope for full success in the negotiations under way for a peaceful and negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear issue with a view to lifting sanctions.

We thank Ambassador Román Oyarzun Marchesi for presenting the quarterly report of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006). We congratulate the Spanish delegation and the Panel of Experts on the work done thus far. We are pleased that no incidents have been reported over the past three months concerning the implementation of resolution 1737 (2006), and we sincerely hope that there will be no setbacks in the effective implementation of all relevant resolutions. We welcome the joint statement of the P5+1 foreign ministers, in which they agreed that substantial progress had been made with Iran on key areas of the Joint Plan of Action, and welcome the commitment of all parties to continuing negotiations towards finding a comprehensive agreement. We therefore hope that all parties agree on the remaining outstanding issues of the broad technical framework for Iran’s nuclear programme by the deadline of the end of March. It is undeniable that the sanctions are having a negative effect on Iran’s economy and its people, and we hope that a deal can be reached soon in order to lift some of those crippling sanctions. Although Iran has evolved its commitment to reach an agreement on a comprehensive solution, the sanctions regime is still in force and must be respected, as must the Committee’s commitment to its implementation. We therefore encourage the Iranian Government to engage with the Committee and respond to the Committee’s requests, which have thus far received no answers. Angola fully supports the non-proliferation nuclear arms regime, and we condemn any activities aiming at the development of nuclear weapons. We will continue to support the ongoing negotiations between the P5+1 and Iran, and we are hopeful that both sides can come to an agreement by the deadlines that have been set. We fully recognize Iran’s right to develop a nuclear energy programme strictly for peaceful aims, medical research and energy production purposes and that there will be no pursuit of nuclear weapons capabilities, which could have serious repercussions for the Middle East and pose a serious threat to international peace and security.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of France. I thank the Ambassador of Spain for the briefing he has just given us on the quarterly activities of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006) on sanctions against Iran. As this is his first briefing as Chair of the Committee to the Security Council, I wish to congratulate him for the speed and the seriousness with which he took charge of that Committee, which deals with a very sensitive issue, and wish him and his team my best wishes for success. Since the adoption of the Joint Plan of Action in November 2013, which was extended a year later, the E3+3 and Iran entered intensive discussions aimed at achieving, before the end of June 2015, a comprehensive agreement that would establish the exclusively peaceful purpose of Iran’s nuclear programme. The negotiations between the six countries and Iran are now in a decisive phase. Our position has been consistent throughout the discussions. Iran has every right to develop energy nuclear for civilian purposes, but under no circumstances should it have access to nuclear weapons. All our demands during the negotiations are based on that principle. It is a simple position based on our rejection of nuclear proliferation. In past weeks, the discussions between the six and Iran enabled progress to be made, but such progress remains, to date, insufficient. Despite the many proposals by the E3+3, differences with Iran remain, in particular on research and development and the settlement of the question of sanctions. Iran must now make tough choices if it truly wants to restore the confidence of the international community. With our partners in the group of six, we are determined to reach a good agreement, that is to say a robust and solid agreement that would establish and guarantee in the long term the exclusively peaceful purpose of Iran’s nuclear programme. Cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is, in this respect, an essential part of the resolution of the proliferation crisis with Iran. The IAEA has confirmed a few days ago that Iran is respecting, at this stage, its obligations related to the Joint Plan of Action of November 2013. However, the most recent report of the IAEA General Director on the implementation of safeguards in Iran states that, with respect to the possible military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear programme, cooperation with Iran is at a standstill, having not seen any progress since August 2014. The IAEA Director General confirmed that yesterday in Washington, D. C. Therefore, Iran has not proposed new practical measures, and, with respect to the existing approved measures in the framework of cooperation of May 2014, Iran has given no explanation for the initiation of high explosives and neutron transport calculations. That situation is of concern. The resolution of all issues related to the possible military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear programme is a key element for restoring confidence and therefore for the long-term agreement that we all want. Finally, the Chair’s report rightly points out that the measures contained in the Security Council’s resolutions regarding Iran remain in full force pending a comprehensive settlement of the Iranian proliferation crisis and of any changes that the Security Council may decide on. Until then, the Sanctions Committee should continue to fulfil its responsibilities, and I thank the Panel of Experts for continuing to support it in that task. I now resume my functions as President of the Council.