WANA (Oct 03) – The United States and around 50 allied countries have issued a joint statement marking the first anniversary of efforts to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran, calling for continued pressure on Tehran and enforcement of the restrictions.

 

The statement was issued on Thursday, October 2, by a group of countries participating in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). The United States, Britain, France and Germany were among its signatories.

 

The signatories, without addressing disputes over Western parties’ compliance with their own commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal, placed primary responsibility for the return of sanctions on Iran and called on countries around the world to enforce the reimposed restrictions against Tehran.

 

They also said they would continue implementing the restrictions, specifically emphasizing efforts to prevent the transfer of equipment, technology and materials that they said could be used in sensitive nuclear activities, the development of weapons of mass destruction or their delivery systems.

 

The statement also expressed support for US sanctions on Iran, which Washington has referred to as an “economic expulsion operation.”

 

Western countries called on Iran to return to its nonproliferation commitments and fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). They also said they would continue coordinating efforts to prevent what they described as Iran’s “prohibited efforts” to develop its nuclear and missile programs.

 

The activation of the mechanism known as the “snapback” process has been accompanied by serious disagreements between Iran and the European countries from the outset. Britain, France and Germany argued that what they described as Iran’s “significant violations” of its commitments under the nuclear deal gave them the right to invoke the mechanism provided for under UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

 

China and Russia, however, have repeatedly maintained that Western countries lack the legal basis to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran given their own failure to comply with their commitments under the nuclear agreement.

 

China and Russia also used their veto power two weeks ago to block a US-drafted resolution at the UN Security Council that sought to establish an expert panel to monitor the implementation of the reimposed sanctions on Iran.