The United Kingdom has urged Iran to live up to its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), warning that the country’s nuclear escalation poses a serious threat to regional and global security.
Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations, delivered a statement at the UN Security Council meeting on Iran, which said: “Iran’s unabated nuclear escalation means that it is closer now than ever to being able to develop a nuclear weapon. This situation makes the region and the world far more dangerous and makes escalation by others more likely.”
“The UN Security Council, through this resolution and the JCPoA, has sought to give Iran the opportunity to demonstrate the peaceful nature of its nuclear programme. However, as the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) has repeatedly reported, Iran continues to escalate its programme beyond credible civilian justification, and far beyond JCPoA limits,” said Woodward.
“The IAEA Director General’s reports that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile is more than 30 times JCPoA limits. Iran, as we speak, is installing yet more advanced centrifuges that would further increase its capacity to produce fissile material for a weapon,” said Woodward.
She added: “Let us be clear about what is now at stake. In October next year, this resolution is due to expire and with it the right to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran. Given Iran’s dangerous advances which have brought it to the brink of being able to develop a weapon, this situation should be of grave concern for this council.”