December 22, the United Nations Security Council held a video public meeting on the Iranian nuclear issue, attended by Ambassador Geng Shuang, China’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Geng Shuang pointed out in his speech that the recent video conference of foreign ministers on the Iranian nuclear issue sent a positive and strong signal to the outside world.
All parties should take this opportunity to seize contact and consultation, strengthen diplomatic efforts, and promote the comprehensive agreement back on track as soon as possible. The most urgent task is for the United States to return astray, return to the comprehensive agreement at an early and unconditional manner and resume performance. The full text of Geng Shuang’s speech is as follows:
I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo, Ambassador Skog, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, and Ambassador Cridelka, Permanent Representative of Belgium, for their briefings.
The Comprehensive Agreement on the Iranian Nuclear Issue is an important achievement of multilateral diplomacy. It has been approved by the United Nations Security Council in resolution 2231, legally binding and should be effectively implemented. To maintain a comprehensive agreement is to safeguard multilateralism, maintain peace and stability in the Middle East, maintain the international nuclear non-proliferation system, and maintain the international order based on international law.
The unilateral withdrawal of the United States from the comprehensive agreement, the continued extreme pressure on Iran, and undermining the efforts of all parties to maintain the comprehensive agreement are the root causes of the current predicament of the Iranian nuclear issue.
Since the beginning of this year, the United States has publicly promoted the extension of the arms embargo against Iran in the Security Council, called for the launch of the “rapid resumption of sanctions” mechanism, unilaterally announced that sanctions against Iraq have been resumed, and have staged many farces despite the views of the international community.
In the face of the unreasonable demands of the United States, the members of the Council adhere to an objective and impartial position, refuse to endorse the United States, and do not recognize that the actions of the United States have any legal, political or practical effect.
The President of the Security Council also concluded that no action should be taken on the request of the United States. This is the firm rejection of bullying by justice, the strong counterattack of multilateralism to unilateralism, and the vivid reflection of the international people.
At present, the Iranian nuclear situation is brewing important changes and facing new opportunities and challenges. All parties should maintain calmness and restraint, firmly implement the comprehensive agreement, resolve their differences through dialogue and consultation within the framework of the Board, and restore the balance of rights and obligations of the comprehensive agreement.
Yesterday, the video conference of the Iranian Foreign Minister on the nuclear issue was successfully held.
The parties reaffirmed their commitment to uphold the comprehensive agreement and Security Council resolution 2231, ensure their complete and effective implementation, recognized the prospect of the United States returning to the comprehensive agreement, and agreed to work together to promote the United States to return to the comprehensive agreement as soon as possible.
The meeting of foreign ministers sent a positive and strong signal to the outside world. All parties should take this opportunity to seize contacts and consultations, strengthen diplomatic efforts, and push the comprehensive agreement back on track as soon as possible. The top priority is for the United States to return astray, return to the comprehensive agreement at an early and unconditional manner and resume performance.
China understands that some countries have concerns about regional security and other issues, but directly linking them to the comprehensive agreement and demanding the resumption of negotiations on the comprehensive agreement will set up new obstacles and add new complex factors to solving the dilemma of the Iranian nuclear issue.
State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed at the Security Council Ministerial Meeting on the Situation in the Gulf Region on October 20 to establish a multilateral dialogue platform in the Gulf region, launch an inclusive dialogue process, discuss regional security issues, and constantly build consensus from easy to difficult.
We are willing to dock the Chinese proposal with similar initiatives put forward by Russia and others, learn from each other and form a synergy.
Council members and regional countries can be based on this, adhere to sincerity and goodwill, seriously dialogue and discussion, gradually accumulate momentum, strive to finally reach consensus, solve the legitimate concerns of all parties, and respond to the expectations of the international community.
In his report, the Secretary-General affirmed the role of the comprehensive agreement and called it the best way to comprehensively and completely solve the Iranian nuclear issue.
The Secretary-General called on all parties to constructively resolve their differences through the dispute settlement mechanism, thanked all parties for supporting the operation of the “trade settlement support mechanism”, and believed that it was essential for all parties to carry out economic and trade cooperation with Iraq under the current economic and epidemic situation. China appreciates these contents.
In his briefing just now, Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo also introduced the fact that the United States persisted in promoting the full resumption of sanctions against Iran by Council members despite the common voice of the international community, which was widely boycotted by Council members and Iran’s failure to fully meet its obligations under the comprehensive agreement, as well as the Secretary-General’s concern about the current tension in the Gulf region.
China hopes that the Secretary-General and the Secretariat can continue to promote and assist the diplomatic efforts of all parties and continue to play an important role in the resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue.
China has always been committed to safeguarding the authority of Security Council resolutions and safeguarding the validity of the comprehensive agreement.
China will continue to stand on the historical correct side, firmly adhere to multilateralism, and work with relevant parties to make unremitting efforts to promote the political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue and maintain regional peace and stability.
According to this month’s work plan, if nothing unexpected, this will be the last meeting of the Council in 2020.
I would like to take this opportunity to bid farewell to the five non-permanent members of Belgium, Dominica, Germany, Indonesia and South Africa, thank you for your efforts and contributions to advancing the work of the Council over the past two years, and hope that you will continue to support and cooperate with the Council after you leave.
Finally, we look forward to the upcoming 2021 to bring everyone health and tranquility, peace and security, solidarity and cooperation.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
