U.S. Mission to the United Nations: Statement on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Reached in Vienna between Iran and the P5+1, with the European Union
Samantha Power
U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations
New York, NY
July 14, 2015
Today, the United States and our P5+1 negotiating partners, along with the EU, reached a historic, comprehensive deal that addresses concerns about the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear program, one of the most serious threats in the world to the security of Americans, American allies and international peace and security.
For nine years, the United Nations Security Council has made clear the world’s grave concerns about the Iranian nuclear program, and has progressively escalated the costs on Iran for its failure to address those concerns, producing one of the world’s toughest ever sanctions regimes. Today’s comprehensive deal builds on this tradition of strong multilateral enforcement by putting in place one of the world’s toughest ever inspections regimes. Critically, the deal also provides for sanctions to be quickly re-imposed if Iran breaches today’s deal.
As was announced in Vienna, the United States will submit a draft Security Council resolution in the coming days on behalf of the P5+1 and the EU. This resolution would endorse this deal and take other important steps, including replacing the existing Security Council sanctions architecture with the new, binding restrictions agreed on in Vienna. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Security Council to secure the timely adoption of this important resolution. I also look forward to continuing to consult closely with Members of Congress, who are essential partners in shaping effective U.S. policy toward Iran and in ensuring Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.
I congratulate the outstanding American team of negotiators, led by Secretary Kerry and Secretary Moniz, as well as the other negotiating teams. Much work remains to be done to give the international community confidence that Iran’s nuclear program is and will remain exclusively peaceful, but today’s deal is an important milestone in America’s pursuit of a safer, more secure world.