Ambassador Robert Wood
Deputy consultant for particular political affairs
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July 6, 2023
As delivered situation
Thank you, Madam President. And, Mr. Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo, I want to thank the Secretariat for its work on this report and its presentation to the Board at this time. And I want to thank Ambassador Frazier for facilitating the preparation of this report. I’d additionally wish to thank Ambassador Skoog for his presentation.
The United States stays gravely involved about Russia’s use of Iranian drones in opposition to Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure in its unwarranted struggle in opposition to Ukraine. Both Iran and Russia participated in these transfers with out prior UN Security Council approval, violating their obligations beneath UN Security Council Resolution 2231.
Just final weekend, official reviews revealed that Russia used eight Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones to terrorize Kiev. The Ukrainian Air Force mentioned it had destroyed the drones, however the particles reportedly broken three buildings and injured one man. This incident, like a number of others, have to be investigated as it’s a clear violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, Annex B, paragraph 4.
We name on the United Nations to deal with these violations and report on the implementation of the provisions of this decision, in accordance with its obligations beneath decision 2231. Specifically, the United Nations Secretariat ought to ship a mission to Kiev with out additional delay to analyze the fragments of those weapons utilized by Russia in opposition to Ukraine. Additionally, the United Nations Secretariat ought to dispatch a group at once to analyze the supplies recovered by the UK.
The mission is obvious and there are not any additional calls for. Security Council resolutions usually are not arbitrary and have to be noticed. It is a widely known undeniable fact that Iran’s growth and proliferation of unmanned aerial automobiles poses a world menace. Therefore, the switch of this stuff was prohibited in 2231.
But the equation modified dramatically when Russia acquired tons of of Iranian drones and produced them by itself territory. This is a critical violation of Resolution 2231. We shouldn’t hesitate to sentence this unstable and harmful observe.
We have seen proof submitted to this Council and the Secretary-General extensively detailing the elements of Iranian unmanned plane recovered from battlefields in Ukraine. Despite proving that Iran is in full disregard of its obligations beneath Resolution 2231, Iran continues to disclaim its position within the weapons injury in Ukraine. These denials counsel that even Iranian leaders are uncomfortable with Russia’s brutal use of those weapons in opposition to civilian targets within the face of such clear photographic proof. .
Also deeply regarding are Russia’s makes an attempt to compromise publicly out there and verified data supporting Russia’s use of Iranian drones in its struggle in opposition to Ukraine. Moscow has gone as far as to label the proof submitted by London and Kiev to the council as false, and has rejected requests by council members for an investigation of the seized elements by the Secretary-General, who falls beneath reporting obligations.
In truth, when these elements are examined by professional investigators, they’re discovered to have comparable design options and patterns to elements beforehand recovered from the stays of ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis in direction of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia. The US believes that it’ll develop into clear. United Arab Emirates.
This Council should tackle any violations of decision 2231, contemplating the implications not just for peace and safety within the Middle East, but additionally for Ukraine and the remainder of the world. We subsequently reiterate our earlier request for the Secretary-General to replace the Council throughout the subsequent 30 days on the evaluation of Iranian unmanned aerial automobiles recovered in Ukraine.
Under Secretary DiCarlo, there may very well be no larger precedence on your workplace. Failure to behave might lead to additional assaults on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, probably leading to lack of civilian life. It is our accountability on this council to do every little thing we will to keep away from these penalties, even when it means confronting one among our members for violations.
Furthermore, in May, Iranian state media introduced a take a look at launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile. The launch contradicted Section 3, which requires Iran to not interact in any exercise involving ballistic missiles designed to ship nuclear weapons, together with launches utilizing such ballistic missile expertise. Iran’s continued growth and proliferation of those missiles poses a critical menace to regional and worldwide safety, and the Security Council ought to view these actions with the seriousness they deserve.
Iran’s ballistic missile actions are a persistent menace to regional and worldwide peace and stability, particularly given Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its threatening rhetoric. Even after sure restrictions in Resolution 2231 finish, the United States will proceed to take vigorous steps to counter this menace and stop the proliferation of delicate ballistic missile expertise to and from Iran. Dew. We can even proceed to impose sanctions on corporations and merchants contributing to this menace.
Additionally, Iran continues to develop its nuclear program, rising tensions. Rather than proceed with nuclear provocations that pose vital proliferation dangers, Iran ought to take actions to construct worldwide belief and cut back tensions.
Meanwhile, Member States should totally implement the related measures in Annex B of Resolution 2231. Iran blatantly continues its actions associated to ballistic missiles designed to ship nuclear weapons, in disregard of Section 3 of Annex B of Resolution 2231.
The Security Council have to be unequivocally united in condemning this exercise. Iran’s repeated defiance of the Security Council with out penalties undermines the elemental credibility of the Security Council itself.
Thank you, Madam President.
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