Thank you, Mr. President,
I would like to start by thanking USG DiCarlo, Ambassador Skoog and Ambassador Fraizer for their briefings.
The sixteenth report of the Secretary General on the implementation of Resolution 2231 (2015) is another important document for shedding light on the advancement of the Iranian illicit nuclear program and its non-compliance with JCPOA. It is yet another testimony of the unlawful nature of the Iranian nuclear proliferation activities and it questions once again its so-called peaceful purposes. We don’t see meaningful steps towards the fulfilment of the obligations under the NPT Safeguard Agreement and its Additional Protocol. The lack of transparency continues from the Iranian side, and the ability of the IAEA for full verification and monitoring remains heavily undermined.
So far, Iran has continued to accumulate uranium and its stockpile is enriched up to 60%, while Teheran constantly refuses to comply with its legal obligations under the Subsidiary Arrangements.
Iran’s missile program remains one of the greatest challenges to international non-proliferation efforts. Today, Iran holds the largest inventory of strategic missiles in the Middle East, posing an increased threat to countries across the region and beyond.
As the SG report clearly says, cruise missiles of Iranian origin were used in an attack on the Al-Dhabba oil-terminal in Yemen in November 2022. As assessed by the Secretariat, the examined ballistic missile components seized by the UK in early 2023 in a vessel in the Gulf of Oman, were of Iranian origin.
Aiming to empower the Houthis and supporting their escalatory and destabilizing actions in Yemen, and recently in the Red Sea, Iran has clearly violated Resolution 2231 by illegally transferring weapons without the approval of the Council.
Furthermore, Iran has continued with other escalatory steps in blatant violation of paragraph 3 of Annex B of the Resolution through conducting activities related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. The launch of Qased rocket in September 2023, disdaining the restrictions under the JCPOA, is another deplorable violation of Resolution 2231.
In addition, Iran’s provision of missile and UAV technology to its partners and proxies endangers international stability and escalates regional tensions.
The illicit transfer of hundreds of Iranian Mohajer and Shahed series of UAVs to Russia, in clear violation of Resolution 2231, has become a supply of death for the Ukrainian people.
Distinguished colleagues,
The whole picture obviously questions whether Iran will ever take any steps to reverse the escalatory destabilizing trajectory and its disregard for the international norms.
The international community has dealt patiently and reasonably with Iran in trying to convince Teheran that the diplomatic path is the best solution. Unfortunately, Teheran continuously has rejected every offer to return to the full and effective implementation of the JCPOA, and regrettably its nuclear program now is more advanced than ever.
In closing, Mr. President, I would like to express Albania’s position that the international community must continue to maintain scrutiny of Iranian ballistic missiles activities until Iran finds its path towards diplomacy.
I thank you.
