The UNSC will hold a meeting to assess Iran’s expanding uranium enrichment stockpile, requested by six member states. The council will also consider Iran’s obligation to cooperate with the IAEA. Despite claims of a peaceful nuclear program, Iran’s enrichment levels raise alarm among Western nations. The JCPOA’s effectiveness is in question following the US withdrawal in 2018, leading to potential sanctions reinstatement discussions.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is organizing a closed-door session on Wednesday to evaluate Iran’s increasing stockpile of highly enriched uranium. This meeting was requested by six member nations: France, Greece, Panama, South Korea, Britain, and the United States, who aim to enhance oversight of Iran’s nuclear developments. Additionally, the council plans to discuss Iran’s duty to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding undeclared nuclear materials found at various sites.
Iran maintains that its nuclear ambitions are peaceful. However, the IAEA has raised alarms about its enrichment levels, reportedly reaching 60% purity, which is dangerously close to the 90% threshold required for nuclear armament. Western nations contend that such high enrichment serves no legitimate civilian purpose.
The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was a landmark agreement intended to limit Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. However, following the United States’ withdrawal from the deal in 2018 under President Donald Trump, compliance from Iran has gradually diminished.
Britain, France, and Germany have conveyed their intention to the UNSC to potentially use a “snapback” mechanism, reimposing UN sanctions on Iran to inhibit its nuclear weapon progression. This option will only be available until October 18, coinciding with the expiration of the UN resolution supporting the JCPOA.
The UNSC is poised to convene to scrutinize Iran’s enriched uranium activities amid rising concerns from Western nations. While Iran asserts its nuclear program’s peaceful intent, the increasing uranium enrichment levels attract significant scrutiny, prompting discussions of reinstating sanctions. The dynamics surrounding the JCPOA continue to evolve, reflecting ongoing global tensions regarding nuclear armament in Iran.
Original Source: themedialine.org
