Statement by H.E. Mr. Amir Saeid Iravani Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations at the Security Council Stakeout New York, 12 March 2026’   In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful   Good afternoon. I wish to brief and clarify the position of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding today’s meeting of the Security Council held under the so-called agenda item “Non-Proliferation.” The United States, in its capacity as the current President of the Security Council, has once again misused its position and pressured members to convene this meeting. Holding a meeting under an agenda item whose mandate has already expired is nothing less than a blatant abuse of the powers and procedures of the Security Council for narrow political purposes. The position of the Islamic Republic of Iran is clear, consistent, and firmly on the record, including in its official communications to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council during past months. Security Council resolution 2231 (2015) definitively terminated on 18 October 2025. As of that date, it was concluded to have no legal effect or operative mandate. This position has also been echoed by some members of the Council. At today’s meeting, two permanent members of the Council have taken principled and legal positions and objected to the agenda of the meeting, considering it illegal and a misuse of the President’s authority by the U.S. and a violation of the Council’s rule of procedure. The claim made in today’s meeting by France, the United Kingdom, and the United States that the so-called “snapback” mechanism has been triggered is baseless and a clear fabrication. The mechanism was available only to current JCPOA participants acting in good faith. Participation is a legal status based on continuous compliance, not a historical label. The three European countries have been in persistent, significant non-performance of their obligations. Under basic principles of international law, a party in material breach cannot invoke enforcement mechanisms. The E3’s earlier attempt to trigger the Dispute Resolution Mechanism was legally and procedurally flawed and exhausted. Accordingly, the Security Council’s role under resolution 2231 came to a definitive end. All nuclear-related provisions, measures, and restrictions were permanently terminated. The Islamic Republic of Iran will not recognise any attempt by any state or body to revive, reinterpret, or enforce these terminated measures and mechanisms in any form, including the 1737 committee or Panel of Experts. During today’s meeting, again, the representatives of certain Western members of the Council made baseless claims and deliberate misinformation regarding Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, Iran’s defensive capabilities, seeking to instrumentalise the Security Council for narrow political ends. Iran categorically rejects these legally unfounded and politically motivated allegations. The claim that Iran has enriched uranium to 60 per cent—the level allegedly required for producing a nuclear bomb—is a distortion of the facts and ignores the real root of the situation. Iran’s decision to increase the level of enrichment was taken solely in response to the violations of commitments by the United States and European countries and was intended as leverage to compel them to return to their obligations. Iran’s measures were lawful and explicitly permitted under the JCPOA. What is unfolding today is, in reality, an illegal and illegitimate war launched by Israel and the United States—two regimes that possess nuclear weapons—against a responsible non-nuclear-weapon State Party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Since 2003, for more than twenty years, Israel has repeatedly alleged that Iran is on the verge of acquiring a nuclear weapon, despite the IAEA’s reports over the years consistently contradicting such unfounded allegations. Based on these very lies, the United States— a nuclear-weapon State and a depositary of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)—in June 2025 attacked and bombed a responsible non-nuclear-weapon State whose peaceful nuclear facilities were fully under the safeguards of the Agency. This illegal act constituted a clear violation of the UN Charter, the principles of international law, the IAEA Statute, the Agency’s relevant resolutions, and the NPT, which the U.S. is a depositary. Iran’s nuclear program has always been exclusively peaceful. It was subject to the most extensive and intrusive verification regime applied to any non-nuclear-weapon State. No other State undergoes such a volume of inspections and scrutiny. Yet Iran is penalised, while those who attack safeguarded nuclear facilities are excused. This is the clearest manifestation of double standards, and it is precisely this hypocrisy that undermines the credibility and integrity of the global non-proliferation regime. The claim that Iran walked away from nuclear talks is simply untrue. Iran has never abandoned diplomacy. However, Iran was attacked for the second time by the United States, while negotiations were ongoing. That fact alone exposes the absence of good faith on the part of the United States. In reality, Iran’s pursuit of diplomacy was met with aggression by the United States and Israel. Now I would like to say a few words about yesterday’s Security Council meeting, which resulted in the adoption of an unjust, biased, and politically motivated resolution. At yesterday’s meeting of the Council, the United States once again abused its position as President of the Council in an attempt to push through a completely political, one-sided, and unjust resolution against Iran. But the fact is clear: over the past two days, many of the so-called co-sponsors of the resolution were subjected to political pressure to secure their support. While the root cause of the current tensions in the region is clear and undeniable, the so-called resolution deliberately ignores it. Instead of condemning the main aggressors—the United States and the Israeli regime—it seeks to condemn the main victim of this illegal and illegitimate war of aggression. Yesterday was a shameful day for the Security Council. Those members, especially Western, who constantly assert their commitment to protecting civilians, especially children, proved that these claims are little more than empty rhetoric. They were unwilling even to condemn—or express concern over—the heinous crimes committed by the United States and Israel against innocent people in Iran, including the massacre of 170 girls’ students at a school in Minab, Iran. During yesterday’s meeting, Iran made it clear that the resolution is basically inconsistent with the Charter of the United Nations and with international law. The text does not refer to the real source of the tensions in the region—namely, the war of aggression illegally and illegitimately launched by the United States and Israel against Iran. It does not call upon the aggressors, the United States and Israel, to halt their unlawful attacks against Iran. Instead, it demands that Iran refrain from exercising its inherent right of self-defence to protect its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and vital interests. Such a demand is unlawful and entirely contrary to the Charter and international law. Iran has repeatedly and clearly informed the Secretary-General and members of the Council, through its official communications, that the Security Council—due to obstructing the United States and certain Western countries—has been unable to fulfil its responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. As long as the Council fails to discharge its duties, Iran has no choice but to exercise its inherent right of self-defence under the UN Charter and international law. Iran fully respects and remains committed to the principle of freedom of navigation under the law of the sea. However, the current situation in the region, including in the Strait of Hormuz, is not the result of Iran’s lawful exercise of its right of self-defence. Rather, it is the direct consequence of the destabilising actions of the United States in launching aggression against Iran and undermining regional security. Thank you. NOTE: After the statement, several journalists posed questions. The questions and answers are as follows: Reporter: The U.S. Navy, possibly together with a coalition, may be escorting vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Can you respond to that? Ambassador Iravani: No, I have no response to that. Iran will exercise its inherent right to preserve peace and security in the Strait of Hormuz; that is our responsibility. Reporter: What is the level of diplomatic relations with Iraqi Kurdistan? In particular, do you have any reaction following the alleged ground operation by Kurdish forces? Ambassador Iravani: We held serious negotiations with the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, and they informed us that they will remain committed to ensuring that no illegal transfers take place from their territory into Iranian soil. Reporter: The new Supreme Leader, [Ayatollah Seyyed] Mojtaba Khamenei, has said they want to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, yet you say you support freedom of navigation. Can you clarify Iran’s position? Ambassador Iravani: As I said, we are not going to close the Strait of Hormuz. However, it is our inherent right to preserve peace and security in this waterway, and that is our right.