A fragile ceasefire brokered by the United States between Iran and Israel appears to be holding, marking a tentative halt to a dangerous regional escalation that included airstrikes, retaliatory missile attacks and mounting civilian casualties.
Amid this relative calm, the United Nations has renewed its call for a diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear issue, warning that the objectives of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - and the resolution that endorsed it - remain unmet.
Addressing a planned Security Council meeting on Tuesday to try and revive the deal amid the dramatic military escalation of the past 12 days, UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo said the fragile ceasefire announced by Donald Trump overnight provided "an opportunity to avoid a catastrophic escalation and achieve a peaceful resolution of the Iran nuclear issue."
The 2015 Iran nuclear deal - more formally known as the JCPOA and backed by the Security Council - offered Tehran sanctions relief in exchange for strict limits on uranium enrichment, stockpile levels and centrifuge use, alongside robust monitoring and verification by the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ).
But the accord has remained in limbo since the United States withdrew in 2018, followed by Iran's rollbacks of its nuclear-related commitments.
With key provisions under resolution 2231 set to expire on 18 October - unless the Council decides otherwise - the UN's top political official has warned that the window for reviving diplomacy is narrowing.
With less than four months before resolution's remaining nuclear-related restrictions are set to expire on 18 October - unless extended by the Council - the UN's top political official warned that the agreement's key aims remain elusive.
Diplomacy kneecapped?
Ms. DiCarlo told ambassadors the recent surge in violence had significantly undermined diplomatic momentum.
"The military escalation between Israel and Iran since 13 June and United States air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities on 21 June complicated prospects for achieving full implementation of resolution 2231," Ms. DiCarlo said.
"Iran's strikes yesterday on a base in Qatar further exacerbated insecurity in an already tense region."
Despite five rounds of bilateral talks between Iran and the US, facilitated by Oman in recent months, Ms. DiCarlo noted that efforts "did not produce a way forward" to restore full JCPOA implementation.
A sixth round of talks was called off due to the outbreak of hostilities.
Meanwhile, the toll from the recent conflict has been sobering. According to Iranian authorities, at least 606 people were killed and more than 5,300 injured since hostilities erupted on 13 June. Israeli officials reported 28 deaths and nearly 1,500 injuries.
Time running out
While divisions persist, Ms. DiCarlo said JCPOA participants - China, France, Germany, Iran, Russia, and the United Kingdom - had all reiterated their commitment to finding a diplomatic solution.
In a joint statement shared with the Secretary-General in March, China, Iran and Russia stressed the importance of resolution 2231's provisions and timelines. China separately proposed a "step-by-step and reciprocal approach" to settle the nuclear issue.
"Diplomacy, dialogue and verification remain the best option to ensure the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme," Ms. DiCarlo said.
Deal, not force, key to resolution: European Union
Echoing UN appeals for dialogue, the European Union stressed that "a lasting solution to the Iranian nuclear issue can only be through a negotiated deal, not military action."
Briefing the Council on behalf of EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis underscored the urgent need "to come back to a diplomatic solution."
Ensuring that Iran does not acquire or develop a nuclear weapon remains a key security priority for the EU, he said.
He added that Iran's accelerating nuclear activities and the absence of IAEA oversight - compounded by the economic fallout from US sanctions - have severely undermined the JCPOA, despite sustained EU efforts to preserve it through diplomacy.
Mr. Lambrinidis reaffirmed that diplomacy must prevail, with the IAEA remaining central to monitoring and verification efforts going forward.
More to follow...
