(New York-September 26, 2025)

Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for being here.

The Council just voted on a draft by China and Russia to give diplomacy another chance. Under U.S. pressure, the Council refused. This is the second time in one week that diplomacy has been blocked.

In my address to the Council, I highlighted the following points:

 For over twenty years, Iran has been a responsible member of the NPT. We pursued our inalienable right to peaceful nuclear energy with transparency.

In 2015, after two years of talks, the JCPOA was reached. It was endorsed unanimously by Resolution 2231.

The issued 15 consecutive reports confirming Iran’s full compliance. No other nuclear program has been inspected more.

Yet in 2018, the U.S. walked away from the deal in violation of Resolution 2231. No legal grounds. No justification.

Iran remained fully compliant for a year. Only after the E3 failed to honor their promises did Iran take lawful, gradual remedial measures.

Today’s crisis is the direct result of U.S. withdrawal and Europe’s inaction. The U.S. betrayed diplomacy. The E3 buried it.

For years, the U.S. and the E3 misrepresented Iran’s peaceful program. They echoed Israel’s false claims — even as Israel maintains the region’s only nuclear arsenal, outside the NPT. The double standard is glaring.

Despite assassinations, sanctions, and bombings of -monitored facilities, Iran has not violated the JCPOA, the NPT, or our Safeguards obligations.

When the former U.S. administration called for dialogue, Iran responded in good faith.

Five rounds of talks were held. On the eve of the sixth, Israel — with U.S. backing — attacked nuclear facilities in Iran and murdered our scientists, including women and children. This was state terrorism. It was never condemned by the E3.

Instead of diplomacy, the E3 pursued snapback. Iran, by contrast, signed a new memorandum with the on 9 September in Cairo. It was welcomed by the Agency and the international community. But in New York, all of Iran’s constructive proposals were ignored.

Russia and China acted responsibly. They proposed a six-month extension of Resolution 2231 to preserve diplomacy.

The E3 and the U.S. blocked it. Their words and actions do not match. Their goal is confrontation, not dialogue.

Iran’s position on snapback is clear: it is illegal, void, and has no standing.

 The E3, having breached the deal, cannot claim “significant non-performance.” Resolution 2231 restrictions will expire permanently on 18 October 2025. Any attempt to revive or extend them is null and void.

We call on the Security Council President to declare today’s decision illegal.

We call on the Secretary-General to stay clear of any role in reviving expired sanctions. Those who pursue this unlawful path will bear full responsibility for damaging the UN’s credibility and for the humanitarian impact on the Iranian people.

This dangerous precedent must not stand. If agreements can be broken at will, no nation can trust international commitments. If unlawful measures are enforced by power instead of law, the Security Council itself will lose authority.

Let me end with this: military attacks have failed. Snapback will fail, too. The only solution is dialogue. The JCPOA proves this.

Iran will never bow to pressure. We respond only to respect. The choice is clear — escalation or diplomacy.

The responsibility lies with those who broke their commitments and undermined international law.

Thank you.