The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney, today met in Tehran with the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, and the Foreign Minister of Iran, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, as part of Ireland’s role on the UN Security Council.
Their talks focused on the restoration of the Iranian nuclear agreement, the JCPOA. Negotiations on a return to the deal have been underway in Vienna since last April and have reached a crucial stage.
As an elected member of the Security Council, for 2021 and 2022, one of Ireland’s key roles is as facilitator of the nuclear deal on the Council.
Minister Coveney said:
“One of the most significant roles allocated to Ireland on the Security Council was Facilitator of Resolution 2231, which underpins the Iranian nuclear deal, the JCPOA. Returning to full implementation of the agreement was the focus of my discussions in Tehran. I strongly encouraged my Iranian interlocutors to seize the historic opportunity of a return by all parties to full implementation of the JCPOA. The coming days and weeks are key if a deal is to be done.”
Restoration of the Iranian nuclear deal will have profound implications for the region, and nuclear non-proliferation globally.
Minister Coveney added:
“I discussed with Iranian counterparts the steps now needed to finalise a return to an agreement that will provide significant benefits to the Iranian economy, through the lifting of sanctions and the commencement of trade and investment relationships. We also discussed the benefit that a fully functioning JCPOA would have for wider stability and prosperity across the Middle East. Our talks also focused on Yemen and Afghanistan, which are important files on the agenda the Security Council, as well as on human rights issues.”
