The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will convene a closed-door session on Wednesday to address Iran’s growing cache of highly enriched uranium, which is close to weapons-grade levels, diplomats said on Monday.
Six out of the 15 council members France, Greece, Panama, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States called for the meeting. These countries also want to call Iran on account of its unwillingness to comply fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concerning undeclared nuclear material at more than one place.
Iran has also denied any nuclear weapons ambitions, claiming that its nuclear program is for peaceful means. The IAEA, though, has cautioned that Iran is speeding up the enrichment of its uranium to 60% purity short of the 90% needed to produce weapons. Western nations believe that no civilian program requires this level of enrichment, adding fuel to suspicions of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was agreed to curb Iran’s nuclear pursuits in return for sanctions relief. The agreement broke down in 2018, though, after then-President Donald Trump withdrew from it, triggering Iran to reverse its obligations.
With the JCPOA framework under threat, Britain, France, and Germany signaled they will use a “snapback” of global sanctions if needed to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. But this will run out on October 18 next year, when the UN resolution backing the agreement expires.
The UNSC session is at a crucial juncture since world powers consider their options to cap Iran’s nuclear advancement and ensure stability in the region.
