UNITED NATIONS (AP) – During a contentious meeting of the U.N. Security Council, both Iran and the United States reiterated their commitments to diplomacy regarding the long-standing nuclear deal, although significant differences remain. This meeting occurs against a backdrop of escalating tensions and previous military actions; notably, a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran in June led to U.S. support for Israeli bombings of Iranian nuclear sites, which subsequently resulted in the cancellation of planned negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has dismissed the prospect of direct negotiations with the U.S. However, Iran's U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani asserted that "Iran remains fully committed to principled diplomacy and genuine negotiations," while calling on France, Britain, and the U.S. to restore trust and confidence through meaningful actions.
Iravani emphasized Iran's commitment to the core elements of the 2015 nuclear deal, which aimed to prevent the country from developing nuclear weapons. Under this agreement, Iran had agreed to limit its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of various sanctions. Yet, in 2018, President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the deal that had been originally negotiated by Iran and the five permanent members of the Security Council, along with Germany.
In a rare public exchange, U.S. Mission counselor Morgan Ortagus, a close ally of Trump, expressed the U.S. willingness to engage in formal discussions with Iran, contingent upon Tehran's readiness for "direct and meaningful dialogue." Ortagus stated that Trump had extended "the hand of diplomacy" to Iran during both of his administrations. She urged Iravani to "step away from the fire" and accept the offer of diplomacy, reiterating that the U.S. position remains clear: there can be no enrichment of nuclear material within Iran, a central point of contention in ongoing discussions.
In response, Iravani argued that the U.S. demand for zero enrichment contravenes Iran's rights under the 2015 agreement and indicated that such a stance impedes fair negotiations. He warned that if France and Britain continued to align with the U.S., "diplomacy will be effectively destroyed." Iravani emphasized that "Iran will not bow down to any pressure and intimidation."
Amid rising tensions, the agreement's three Western participants—Britain, France, and Germany—activated a "snapback" mechanism in September, reinstating sanctions that had previously been lifted. They cited Iran's non-compliance with the terms of the nuclear deal as the justification for this action.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported concerning developments, noting that Iran has accelerated its uranium production to levels approaching weapons-grade. Specifically, the IAEA indicated that Iran possesses over 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, which is perilously close to the weapons-grade threshold of 90%.
In defense of the snapback mechanism, France's deputy U.N. ambassador Jay Dharmadhikari highlighted that Iran has been in "increasingly flagrant violation" of all agreed-upon limitations since 2019, designed to ensure the peaceful nature of its nuclear program. Nonetheless, he reassured that the reimposition of sanctions should not signal an end to diplomatic efforts for a resolution.
Countering these statements, Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia criticized France's diplomatic efforts, asserting that they had "failed miserably" in their attempts to negotiate a deal with Iran, acknowledging the frustration voiced by several parties during the meeting.
