Ambassador Jennifer Locetta
Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs
New York, New York

AS DELIVERED

The United States strongly rejects the assertions made by the representatives of the Russian Federation and China. We fully support the statement made by the representative of the United Kingdom in support of moving forward with this meeting.

One year ago, this Council chose in a decisive vote to permit the reimposition of UN Security Council Resolutions 1696, 1737, 1747, 1803, 1835, and 1929.

Pursuant to this decision, the 1737 Committee was reestablished.

This committee is operational. It has decided exemption requests. And the Secretariat selected a slate of members for the Panel of Experts.

Resolution 1737 and the subsequent resolutions mandate quarterly reports from the 1737 Committee to this Council. Today, the President of this Council, as Acting Chair of the 1737 Committee, should present the Committee’s 90 Day report. We are disappointed that the obstruction from two Council members yet again blocked the delivery of this mandated report to the Council. This report is an entirely factual description of the Committee’s activities during the reporting period.

China and the Russian Federation want to undermine the implementation of this Council’s resolutions, and in doing so, the will of this Council, so that they can protect Iran: a country that continues to openly defy many of its most basic UN obligations.

Regardless of such politically driven matters, the facts are the facts.

The 1737 Committee exists. It was tasked by this body to constrain and monitor a nuclear program that Iran sought to operate out of the view of the international community. Iran remains in non-compliance with its Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty-mandated comprehensive safeguards agreement with the IAEA, as reaffirmed this week by the IAEA Board.

The United States will continue to work with partners on and off this Council to ensure the broadest possible international compliance with respect to the six resolutions reinstated last September.

We call on Council members to join us in that common effort. Despite the obstruction by two members blocking the Committee’s report, this meeting provides an important opportunity to discuss implementation of the sanctions’ measures reinstated by this Council. I urge everyone to join us in voting “yes” to adopt the agenda, hold this meeting, and allow the Council to proceed with its work.

Thank you.

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