UNITED NATIONS, (AP) On Wednesday, the United Nations, European Union, and many Security Council members urged Iran and the United States to immediately implement the 2015 nuclear agreement aimed at reining Iran's nuclear program. However, neither side made any progress toward an agreement.Six rounds of talks were held in Vienna by six of the six remaining parties to the agreement, including Russia, China Germany, France and Britain. They tried to resolve outstanding issues regarding how the United States could rejoin. In 2018, the then-President Donald Trump pulled away from the agreement. However, President Joe Biden reaffirmed his predecessor's assertion that the U.S. wanted to return to the pact.Enrique Mora, the EU official responsible for the coordination of the Vienna talks, said to reporters that they are getting closer to a deal but not quite there. He also stated that it was time to make political decisions before the final round of negotiations.On Wednesday, however, the Security Council saw diplomats from Iran as well as the United States take a firm stand and did not compromise on a meeting to discuss implementation of the 2015 resolution of the council that approved the nuclear agreement.The 2015 agreement was designed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Tehran denies that it seeks them. The 2015 agreement provided that U.N. sanctions which severely affected oil-rich countries economy were lifted. However, Trump unilaterally imposed new sanctions and increased the severity of those sanctions after the U.S. pulled from the pact.Majid Takht Ravanchi, Iranian Ambassador, strongly condemned the continued impact of U.S. Sanctions. He claimed that they were also affecting Iran's efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.He told the council that nothing has changed, except for the verbal declaration by the United States that it intends to "return to compliance" with the agreement. The maximum pressure policy against our people and the draconian penalties against them continue, in reality.Continue the storyHe stated that Iran has paid a high price in order to keep the deal alive and remains committed to it until other parties end their bullying policies.Ravanchi stated that it was high time for the United States of America and the three European countries to the agreement make difficult decisions in order to return to full compliance.Jeffrey DeLaurentis, the U.S. deputy ambassador, told members of the council that the discussions in Vienna had helped to clarify the choices that must be made by Iran as well as the United States to achieve mutual compliance.He stated that the United States is committed in ensuring Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon and that diplomacy in coordination with regional partners is the best way to do so.DeLaurentis stated that recent reports from U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres as well as the International Atomic Energy Agency show Iran's increasing nuclear program. These include the use of more centrifuges, uranium enrichment levels up to 60%, and production of uranium metal.We ask Iran to stop taking further escalatory actions and to return "to full implementation" of the agreement’s provisions, DeLaurentis stated.Ravanchi stated that Iran can take any steps it wants because the U.S. violated this agreement and reiterated that they will be reversed.The 2015 Security Council Resolution that endorses the agreement contains a key provision. It calls upon Iran to refrain from any activities related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nukes, but does not specifically demand that Tehran do this.Iran tested a space vehicle and launched ballistic missiles early in the year. This prompted complaints from France, Britain and Israel. The U.S. supported them. Russia and Iran argued that they didn't violate the agreement.Rosemary DiCarlo, U.N. political chief, told the council that diplomatic efforts at Vienna provide a crucial opportunity for Iran and the U.S. to fully reopen the accord.She agreed with Guterres' appeal to the U.S. for lifting or waiving sanctions and extending waivers on oil trading with Iran. She urged Iran to refrain further escalation and to return to full implementation the agreement.DiCarlo called this a "defining moment" and said that it was crucial for all parties to take advantage of this opportunity to get the agreement back on track.Olof Skoog, EU Ambassador, warned that it is possible to do what was possible today but may not be possible in the future.He told the council that there is a narrow window of diplomatic opportunity ahead of us.
