Parties urged to get Iran deal back on track

A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Tuesday called on participating countries to preserve their commitments to the Iran nuclear deal, and urged the United States to return to it without conditions.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, is an important achievement of multilateral diplomacy, is legally binding and should be effectively implemented, China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Geng Shuang, told ambassadors at a Security Council virtual meeting on nonproliferation.

The unilateral withdrawal by the US from the deal in May 2018, its continued maximum pressure campaign on Iran, and its undermining the efforts of parties to uphold the agreement are the root causes of the current predicament on the Iran nuclear issue, he said.

Faced with the unreasonable demand of the US, the overwhelming majority of Security Council members adhered to an objective and fair stand and refused to endorse the US position, he said.

The JCPOA was signed in 2015 between Iran and China, Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the European Union.

At present, the situation on the Iranian nuclear issue is pregnant with important changes and faced with new opportunities and challenges. All parties should maintain calm and restraint, implement the agreement, resolve differences through dialogue and consultation, and restore the balance of rights and obligations under the deal, he added.

On Monday, a foreign ministers' video teleconference on the Iran nuclear issue was held.

The parties reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding the agreement and Security Council Resolution 2231, ensure its complete and effective implementation, recognize the prospect of the US rejoining the deal, and agree to make joint efforts to positively address the US return as soon as possible, Geng said.

Positive, strong message

The meeting sent a positive and strong message to the world. All parties should seize the opportunity to speed up engagement and consultations, strengthen diplomatic efforts, and move the deal back to the right track as soon as possible.

The most urgent task at the moment is for the US to mend its ways, rejoin the agreement unconditionally at an early date, and return to full compliance, Geng said.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on the Oct 20 Security Council debate on the Persian Gulf region, proposed the launch of a multilateral dialogue platform for the region. China is willing to link its initiative with similar proposals from Russia and others, learn from each other and form synergies, he said.

Security Council members and regional countries can use this as a basis, earnestly engage in dialogue and discussion and gradually accumulate momentum to strive for a consensus that addresses the legitimate concerns of all parties in response to the expectations of the international community, Geng said.

Tuesday's meeting represents the last one for Security Council members this year.

In his address, Germany's Permanent Representative to the UN Christoph Heusgen, who plans to retire after 40 years of diplomatic service, appealed to China to free two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.

Kovrig and Spavor were detained on the grounds that they were suspected of crimes against China's national security.

Geng said Heusgen's remarks were irrelevant to the theme of Tuesday's meeting and represented "a far cry from the facts".

'Good riddance'

"He abused the platform of the Security Council in an attempt to poison the working atmosphere of the council," the envoy said.

"Now, I wish to say something out of the bottom of my heart. Good riddance, Ambassador Heusgen ... farewell. I was hoping that the council in your absence in the year 2021 will be in a better position to fulfill the responsibilities or mandate for maintaining international peace and security," he added.

He stressed that China is a country which follows the rule of law.

"Anyone, if he is to be found to be in violation of China's laws, will be met with punishments. The Chinese legal institutions have been dealing with cases in accordance with laws and the rights of interest of the persons concerned have been guaranteed," he said.