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 Visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence Simon Coveney to Iran

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney, will visit Iran on 14 February.

Ahead of the visit, the Minister said:

“One of the most significant roles allocated to Ireland on the Security Council was Facilitator of Resolution 2231, which relates to the Iranian nuclear deal, the JCPOA. 

Over the past year, I have engaged extensively with all the key actors to encourage a return to full implementation of the agreement.

Talks on a restoration of the Iranian nuclear agreement have been ongoing in Vienna since last April, and have reached an extremely important stage. The choices made over the coming weeks will have profound implications for the region, and for international peace and stability.

Iran’s continued advances in its nuclear programme, and reduction in cooperation with international inspectors have caused grave concern in the region and beyond, and I will be raising these concerns with my counterparts.

A much better alternative is on the table. I will be strongly encouraging my Iranian interlocutors to seize the opportunity presented by the diplomatic process, and to work towards an agreement that will benefit their own economy, as well as benefit stability and prosperity across the Middle East.

As well as the nuclear agreement, our discussions will also focus on other key issues in the Middle East, many of which feature on the agenda of the Security Council.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor

 

  1. The JCPOA was agreed in 2005 between Iran and the E3+3 (France, Germany, UK, US, China, Russia). The US, under President Trump, withdrew from the agreement in 2018. The Biden Administration have indicated a willingness to re-engage with the JCPOA, should Iran come back into compliance.

 

  1. Talks have been taking place in Vienna since April 2021 (with a five month break between June and November due to Iranian Presidential elections). Negotiations are focusing on sanctions which would be lifted on Iran, in return for strict limits on Iran’s nuclear programme.
  2. A commitment to non-proliferation is one of the core principles of Irish foreign policy, and one which Ireland continually emphasises on the Security Council. Ireland has long been associated with some of the key international efforts to prevent proliferation, dating back the creation of the Non Proliferation Treaty in 1968.
  3. Upon accession to the Security Council in 2021, Ireland as Facilitator of Resolution 2231, which was agreed in 2015 to endorse the Iranian nuclear deal. In this role, Ireland updates the Council on progress towards implementing Iran’s nuclear agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Ireland has also used the role of Facilitator to encourage parties to the JCPOA to return to full compliance with the agreement.
  4. In August 2021, Ireland re-established a Diplomatic Mission in Tehran. The Mission is co-located with the German Embassy under a co-location agreement. The government also committed to re-establishing an Irish Embassy in Tehran by 2023.