Explanation of Vote by Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations Samuel Žbogar at the UNSC meeting on non-proliferation

Thank you, Mr. President.

I also welcome the Permanent Representative of Iran to the chamber.

I wish to begin by expressing my appreciation to you for your leadership on this file and for your commitment to upholding the agreements reached among the members of the Council.

We view today’s motion precisely in that spirit—consistent with what the Security Council envisaged when adopting resolution 2231.

Colleagues,

We stand at a critical juncture for multilateralism. Trust is eroding in the corridors of the United Nations. International law is increasingly disregarded.

Ten years ago, in 2015, global diplomacy was able to overcome differences and find a consensus.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was rightly seen as a landmark multilateral achievement.

It placed strict, among participants mutually agreed, limits on Iran’s uranium enrichment and stockpile. It established the most rigorous inspection regime ever agreed through the IAEA.

Since 2018 the deal has struggled for credibility. For many years, we have been witnessing non-compliance with the provisions of the JCPoA. Prospects were further diminished with the 12-days war in June.

Mr. President,

Slovenia voted against in today’s vote to send a clear and deliberate message: a reset is urgently needed.

We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table, to restore full cooperation with the IAEA, and to recommit to pursuing its nuclear program solely for peaceful purposes in a transparent and verifiable way.

We call on Iran and on the E3 to use the remaining days to 27^th of September for diplomacy.

There is no other but a diplomatic solution to Iranian nuclear issue.

I thank you. 

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