The UNSC is meeting to address Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile after it reached 60% purity. Six nations demand compliance with IAEA regulations on undeclared nuclear materials. The 2015 JCPOA’s effectiveness is in jeopardy as Western nations consider a mechanism to restore sanctions before a looming deadline.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) plans a closed-door meeting to evaluate Iran’s increasing stockpile of highly enriched uranium, requested by six member nations: France, Greece, Panama, South Korea, Britain, and the US. The focus will also include Iran’s obligation to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concerning undeclared nuclear materials found at various sites.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes. However, the IAEA has reported that Iran is enriching uranium to a purity level of 60%, which is close to the 90% threshold required for nuclear weapons, prompting concerns from Western governments about the implications of such high enrichment levels.
The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) involved the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China, which lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for nuclear program restrictions. The agreement started to collapse in 2018 when the US exited under President Trump’s administration, leading Iran to decrease its compliance over time.
Britain, France, and Germany have cautioned the UNSC about potentially reinstating UN sanctions against Iran through a “snapback” mechanism to impede its nuclear weapons development. This option is set to expire on October 18, coinciding with the lapse of the UN resolution backing the JCPOA, while President Trump has tasked US diplomats with coordinating international efforts to restore restrictions on Iran.
The UNSC is convening to assess Iran’s rising uranium enrichment, indicating serious international concerns over nuclear proliferation. With the JCPOA’s support diminishing, Western nations are considering reinstating sanctions to limit Iran’s nuclear ambitions, reflecting a critical geopolitical stance as global leaders navigate diplomatic texts and nuclear security agreements.
Original Source: themedialine.org
