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Security Council Fails to Adopt Resolution Extending Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran's Nuclear Programme

Meetings Coverage
Security Council

10006th Meeting (PM)

SC/16181
26 September 2025

The Security Council today failed to adopt a resolution that would have extended United Nations sanctions relief under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, following the decision by France, Germany and the United Kingdom to trigger the reimposition of sanctions — the so-called "snapback" mechanism — citing Iran's significant non-performance of its commitments under the Plan.

The draft resolution was rejected by a recorded vote of 9 against (Denmark, France, Greece, Panama, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, United Kingdom, United States) to 4 in favour (Algeria, China, Pakistan, Russian Federation), with 2 abstentions (Guyana, Republic of Korea).

If adopted, the resolution would have decided to technically extend for 6 months, till 18 April 2026, the 10-year term after the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Adoption Day, indicated in resolution 2231 (2015) and its Annexes, with a possibility for a further extension. Further, it would have encouraged the continuation of the engagement between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and urged all initial participants of the JCPOA to immediately resume negotiations on the matters related to the resolution 2231 (2015) and the JCPOA.

Speaking before the vote, the representative of the Russian Federation voiced regret that the United States and its European colleagues did not choose the path of diplomacy instead of "clumsy blackmail", which only leads to escalation in the region.  When the notification was issued, the United Kingdom, France and Germany assured everyone that they were prepared to abandon their escalatory policy if Iran complied with the conditions they had set out.  These included three points:  the resumption of communication with IAEA, disclosure regarding enriched uranium stockpiles and constructive engagement on the broader situation.

Despite these circumstances, Iran has demonstrated strategic wisdom and flexibility, making serious progress on the issues at hand. On 9 September in Cairo, Iran and IAEA signed an agreement covering all nuclear facilities in the country — including those attacked by Israel and the United States in June 2025. Furthermore, Tehran, despite Washington, D.C.'s, active aggression, has demonstrated its readiness to resume dialogue with the United States.  He urged all members to vote in favour and demonstrate "a depoliticized approach and commitment to diplomacy".

Text Would Afford More Time for Diplomatic Efforts, Political Solution

Describing resolution 2231 (2015) as "the fruit of diplomatic efforts and the victory of multilateralism", China's delegate stressed that today, the Iranian nuclear issue "stands at a critical juncture", with the E3 [France, Germany, United Kingdom] pushing to activate the snapback mechanism and Iran warning it "will take countermeasures if the sanctions were to be restored". "The current situation is precarious, almost on the brink of collapse," he warned, noting that Iran recently reached an agreement with IAEA on resuming cooperation, demonstrated its sincerity in its engagement with the E3 and has "repeatedly sent positive signals of its readiness to resume talks with the U.S.".  Therefore, Beijing and Moscow tabled a draft resolution for a six-month technical extension to resolution 2231 (2015).  Stressing that the resolution "is not about picking sides between Iran and the E3", he said it "aims to get more time for diplomatic efforts and create conditions for a political solution".

For his part, France's delegate outlined efforts undertaken over the past eight days to reach a diplomatic solution and avoid the reimposition of sanctions, including talks with IAEA's Director and Iran's President. However, he voiced regret over Iran's attitude of refusal and lack of agreement to engage in concrete and specific gestures, including the resumption of cooperation with IAEA and lack of transparency on the location of 450 kilograms of enriched uranium, adding:  "This was a minimal demand."  Also noting Tehran's proposal of "intermediate options" instead of acceding to the demand of the resumption of negotiations with the United States, he said — unless substantive negotiations are agreed on — France opposes the text.

Speaking after the vote, China's representative expressed deep regret that the resolution was not adopted, recalling that Beijing has consistently emphasized that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable means to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.  "The current situation has reached a critical juncture," he stated, urging all parties to remain calm, exercise restraint, and uphold regional peace and stability.

He called on the United States to demonstrate political will by responding positively to Iran's proposal to resume talks and to commit unequivocally to refraining from further military strikes against Iran.  He further underscored the need to uphold the spirit and principles of the JCPOA, and to pursue a holistic approach to nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

The representative of the Russian Federation added that virtually everything Western colleagues called for is enshrined in the text. Since the Council did not adopt the text, the resolution in question will cease to be in effect on 18 October, the day that the Agreement is set to expire, he said, stressing:  "There has been no snapback and there will be no snapback."

Diplomatic Efforts Towards Finding Negotiated Solution Still Possible

Deploring the fact that the Council was unable to adopt the text, Algeria's delegate said it "missed yet another opportunity to encourage dialogue and to help diplomatic efforts to bear fruit".  He warned that any substitution to a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear issue can result in serious repercussions in the Middle East region.  Noting recent practical arrangements between Iran and IAEA reached in early September, he said that "diplomatic efforts geared towards finding a negotiated solution are still possible".

Picking up that thread, the representative of Pakistan noted his delegation's vote in favour of the draft and stressed that "buying more time would be a critically important prerequisite to move forward".  To that end, "the only logical step would be a technical extension of [Council] resolution 2231 (2015)".  Voicing support for JCPOA, he said that coercive measures would not resolve outstanding issues but complicate them further and that sanctions would only hurt ordinary Iranians.

Numerous countries that voted against the draft rejected those concerns.  Among them was the United Kingdom's representative, who stated that "Iran is defying the global non-proliferation regime" and its actions mean that "IAEA is not able to confirm that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful". Her country, she said, engaged tirelessly in diplomatic efforts to resolve concerns and bring Iran back into compliance with its commitments under the JCPOA.  Regrettably, Iran has continued to block progress in recent months. Therefore, last week the Council fulfilled the necessary steps of the snapback process set out in resolution 2231 (2015) and UN sanctions will be reimposed this weekend.  "All Member States are obliged to comply fully with these sanctions as required by the UN Charter," she stressed, adding that her country remains "committed to pursuing a diplomatic solution that ensures Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon while maintaining Tehran's right to a civil nuclear programme".

Also affirming her country's support for the reimposition of pre-2015 United Nations sanctions on Iran, the representative of the United States underlined that these measures, set to enter into effect on the evening of 27 September, are not arbitrary, but specifically designed to address the threat posed by Iran's nuclear, missile and conventional arms programmes, as well as its support for terrorism.

Text Intended to Relieve Iran of Accountability for Ongoing Non-Performance

She underlined that "the snapback mechanism" does not preclude the eventual removal of these measures through diplomacy.  However, at this stage, there is no basis for changing course, given Iran's failure to address the concerns raised by the E3. Welcoming the Council's rejection of the draft put forward by China and the Russian Federation, she described it as "a hollow text intended to relieve Iran of accountability for its continued, significant non-performance".

Denmark's representative voiced regret that despite hope for a breakthrough, intensive diplomatic efforts did not bear fruit.  Necessary steps were not taken to extend the provisions of Council resolution 2231 (2015), not unconditionally, she said, adding:  "It is also problematic that it did not call for a return to full cooperation with the IAEA."  Adopting the text would prolong a fundamentally untenable situation, she said, noting that her delegation therefore voted against the text.

Sierra Leone's delegate welcomed reports that Iran and the IAEA have signed an agreement aimed at resuming cooperation, describing it as "a significant strand of the ongoing negotiations, a step toward rebuilding trust". However, the resolution "does not offer tangible outcomes, specifically concrete and timebound steps that restore access, lower enrichment levels and rebuild continuity of knowledge". Therefore, Sierra Leone cannot agree to the text as it stands.

The representative of Slovenia voiced concern over the scope and transparency of Iran's nuclear programme, especially the stockpile of highly enriched uranium.  He "called out Iran's unacceptable disregard for its non-proliferation obligations" and equally unacceptable attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.  Slovenia did not support the resolution because such an extension — if it is to provide space for diplomacy — should come with precisely defined conditions to be met.  "We call on all sides to engage in diplomacy even after the sanctions," he stated.

Citing non-proliferation as "one of the basic pillars of international security", Greece's delegate underscored that its continued universality is in the interests of all States.  Relatedly, Panama's delegate appealed to Iran to commit to cooperation with IAEA by resuming its obligations and commitments that guarantee access, transparency and effective supervision, thereby restoring confidence in the peaceful character of the programme.

Recognizing the urgency of addressing the Iranian nuclear issue, the representative of Guyana explained that her delegation had abstained in the vote.  She cautioned that "a technical extension may not be enough to make progress", stressing the need for a more comprehensive approach, involving all participants, to foster a lasting diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.

Similarly, the representative of the Republic of Korea, Council President for the month, spoke in his national capacity to note that his delegation abstained in the vote and to express support for a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.

Iran Will Never Respond to Threats or Pressure

Rounding out the discussion, Iran's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, described the resolution as "a genuine endeavour to keep the door for diplomacy and dialogue open" and recalled that his country has been a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty since 1970 and pursued its rights to peaceful nuclear energy "with all transparency and readiness to address every question in good faith".  Today's situation, he said, is "the direct consequence" of the United States' withdrawal from the JCPOA and the E3's failure to take any effective action to uphold their commitments.  "The United States has betrayed diplomacy, but it is the E3 which have buried it," he stated, adding that his country "rejects weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons" as these are "contrary to Islamic teachings" and "to our defence doctrine".

Despite attacks on its nuclear facilities and assassinations of scientists, Iran signed a memorandum with IAEA.  He accused the United States and the E3 of blocking diplomacy and invoking the "so-called snapback mechanism," which Iran views as "legally void, politically reckless and procedurally flawed".  He declared any effort to revive sanctions under resolution 2231 (2015) as "null and void", noting that nuclear-related restrictions expire on 18 October.

"If agreements can be broken at will, no nation can trust international commitments," he warned.  "If unlawful measures are enforced by power instead of law, the Security Council risks losing credibility."  By blocking diplomacy, the United States and E3 "have actively and intensely paved the way for dangerous escalation".  He concluded:  "The only solution is dialogue — the JCPOA proves this," and stressed, "Iran will never respond to threats or pressure."