December 17, 2024
Thank you, Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo and Head of Delegation Lambrinidis, for your briefings. And thank you, Ambassador Frazier, for your critical work as facilitator during your time on the Council.
Colleagues, when you look into the forces behind some of today’s most devastating and destabilizing conflicts, you see one country’s name pop up – over and over again.
Iran.
Iran continues to fuel conflict and instability in the Middle East and other parts of the world, and its nuclear activities continue to be of grave concern.
The Secretary-General’s report notes Iran continues to expand its nuclear program, installing additional advanced centrifuges, and accumulating greater quantities of highly enriched uranium.
The report issued by IAEA Director General Grossi on December 6 further exposes Iran’s relentless pursuit and continued expansion of its nuclear program.
Iran will tell you its aims are peaceful, that they are for civilian use. But the IAEA’s report calls this into question.
The IAEA Director General has said Iran is ramping up production of 60% enriched uranium at a pace that significantly increases its ability to rapidly produce additional material.
All of this is happening against the backdrop of continued comments by Iranian officials suggesting Iran may decide to change its nuclear doctrine and build a nuclear weapon.
Colleagues, we have good reason to be concerned about Tehran’s intentions. Iran’s actions suggest it is not interested in demonstrating verifiably that its nuclear program is exclusively peaceful. We must be clear in our condemnation of this dangerous conduct, and Iran’s failure to cooperate with and address the IAEA’s unresolved questions. All of us.
Colleagues, Iran has the opportunity to change course and engage in diplomacy. Instead of expanding its program and stirring up speculation about its intentions, Iran should take actions that build international confidence and deescalate tensions.
The United States has long believed such diplomacy as the best way to achieve a sustainable, effective solution to the international community’s concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
Though diplomacy is the best option, the United States also has been clear a nuclear Iran can never be an option.
We are prepared to use all elements of national power to ensure that outcome.
We are also concerned about the developments with Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programs – weapons we have seen Iran use against its neighbors, repeatedly, over the last year.
Indeed, Tehran continues to export chaos and violence to other countries, especially in the Middle East.
The regime openly brags about this. Iran’s own state-affiliated media has touted its country’s supply of prohibited ballistic missile technology to the Houthis – violations documented by UN experts.
Iran was fully implicated in supplying weapons to Hizballah.
Iran has also transferred drone technology and short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, enabling Russia to prosecute its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.
We know, without a doubt, Russia acquired hundreds of UAVs from Iran for use against Ukraine before October 2023 in violation of Security Council Resolution 2231.
It’s, therefore, no surprise Russia leaps to defend Iran at every opportunity.
But we cannot allow Russia’s dependency on Iran to deter this Council from demanding Tehran abide by its obligations under various UNSCRs, including Resolution 2231.
We all have a role to play in condemning Iran’s brazen, destabilizing behavior.
In our statements today, but even more importantly, through concrete action.
Because when Iran flagrantly defies the Security Council without consequence and flouts its resolutions – when it ignores the clear and consistent concerns of the IAEA, it undermines the credibility and authority of the United Nations.
And so, we must continue to hold Iran to account and continue to live up to our mandate to advance international peace and security.
Thank you.