Diplomacy only way to address Iranian nuclear issue: UN official

UNITED NATIONS, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Diplomacy is the only way to effectively address the Iranian nuclear issue, a senior UN official said on Thursday.

It is essential that all parties renew the dialogue as quickly as possible and reach an agreement on the outstanding issues, said Rosemary DiCarlo, UN undersecretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs.

Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with world powers in July 2015, agreeing to put some curbs on its nuclear program in return for the removal of the sanctions on the country.

The United States, however, pulled out of the deal in May 2018 and reimposed its unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting the latter to drop some of its nuclear commitments under the deal.

Addressing a Security Council briefing, DiCarlo reiterated the UN secretary-general's appeal to the United States to lift or waive its sanctions as outlined in the deal and to extend waivers with regard to the trade in oil with Iran.

She also echoed the UN chief's call on Iran to reverse the steps it has taken that are not consistent with its nuclear related commitments under the deal.

The negotiations for the revival of the JCPOA commenced in April 2021 in Austria's capital Vienna. Despite several rounds of talks, no significant breakthrough has been achieved since the end of the last round in August 2022.

Also speaking at the Security Council briefing, Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, pointed out that the previous U.S. administration unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA and exerted extreme pressure on Iran, which triggered the Iranian nuclear crisis.

It is regrettable that the negotiations have stalled since August 2022, Geng said, calling on the United States and other relevant parties to seize the positive momentum, adopt a pragmatic approach and move in the same direction as Iran and promote the early return of the JCPOA to the right track.

He also urged the United States to lift all unilateral sanctions and "long-arm jurisdiction" measures against Iran and any third party, stop the wrongful threat of use of force and to create favorable conditions for an early and full resumption of implementation of the JCPOA.

All parties should maintain a rational attitude, treat the Iranian nuclear issue separately from other issues and avoid any negative move that could escalate the situation and undermine a political and diplomatic solution, Geng said.

China has always been committed to maintaining effectiveness of the JCPOA and the authority of the Security Council resolutions, and has always participated in the political and diplomatic solution of the Iranian nuclear issue in a constructive manner, he said.

China is ready to keep close contact with all parties to push the JCPOA back on the right track at an early date, maintain the international nuclear non-proliferation regime as well as peace and stability in the Middle East, said Geng.