Madam Chair,

China welcomes and appreciates the latest progress on the Iranian nuclear issue reported by General Secretary Grossi. We highly commend Iran's commitment to strengthening communication and dialogue with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to restore safeguards, as well as the constructive role played by Director General Grossi in this process.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), endorsed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015), is the unique achievement of multilateral diplomacy and a role model to resolve disputes through dialogue and engagement. Although the JCPOA has been severely undermined due to the unilateral withdrawal of the United States in 2018, the spirit of the agreement still holds significant value for resolving the Iranian nuclear issue through political and diplomatic means.

China has consistently and actively supported the maintenance and implementation of the JCPOA. I am authorized to announce that China will continue to contribute 1.35 million RMB to the IAEA's verification and monitoring in Iran.

Madam Chair,

Since this year, new opportunities have emerged for a political and diplomatic resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue. Regrettably, this process has been seriously disrupted, causing a severe impact on the NPT and the IAEA mechanisms. The United States and Israel brazenly launched military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards, severely undermining diplomatic efforts on the Iranian nuclear issue, and seriously disrupting safeguards cooperation between Iran and the IAEA.

In the face of this grave and complex situation, China has always firmly upheld the authority of the NPT and the role of the IAEA. We firmly oppose hegemonic and bullying practices, and  are committed to promoting dialogue and negotiation, facilitating communication and mediation. Together with all parties, China has actively engaged in constructive diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation and loss of control, promote dialogue and cooperation, and help resolve differences.

On the issue of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, China clearly opposes the attempts by certain countries on the “snapback”, and believes that this action will not help build confidence or bridge differences among relevant parties, undermine the diplomatic efforts for an early resumption of negotiations, and even lead to unpredictable and catastrophic consequences, ruin all the diplomatic efforts for many years and completely end the political diplomatic settlement process.

China firmly advocates the principle of sovereign equality, adherence to international law, and the practice of multilateralism, and upholds a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security. We call on respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, adhering to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, valuing the legitimate security concerns of all nations, and advocating for the peaceful resolution of international disputes through dialogue and consultation. These are the core elements of Global Governance Initiative and Global Security Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, and they provide important guidance for a proper resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue.

Madam Chair,

Given the current situation, the international community should reach a renewed consensus on properly resolving the Iranian nuclear issue through political and diplomatic means. All parties that jointly reached the JCPOA should make new efforts to this end. We call upon the United States and Israel to refrain from abusing force, and urge the E3 to halt efforts to activate “snapback” .

The Iranian nuclear issue can only be properly resolved by fully respecting Iran's right to peaceful use of nuclear energy as a signatory to the NPT, ensuring the peaceful nature of its nuclear program, and supplemented by strict international verification under the IAEA framework. Facing new circumstances and opportunities, we call on all relevant parties to undertake substantive efforts for genuine diplomacy. To this end, China would like to reiterate the following positions:

First, we encourage Iran and the IAEA Secretariat to continue work towards each other and implement their arrangement as soon as possible to resume safeguards cooperation in Iran.

Second, we support the extension of the Security Council Resolution 2231, in order to provide more time and space for political and diplomatic efforts.

Third, we support Iran and all relevant parties in maintaining dialogue and negotiations to reach a balanced solution that accommodates the legitimate concerns of all sides.

China will continue, in a principled, responsible, and constructive manner, to work with all parties to bring the political and diplomatic process on the Iranian nuclear issue back on track. We remain committed to firmly upholding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and supporting the IAEA to play its unique and important role in this regard.

Thank you, Madam Chair.