Statement by H.E. Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, PR of Latvia to the United Nations at UN Security Council Briefing on Iran (Non-proliferation (1737 Sanctions Committee))
New York, 10 September 2026
Merci, Monsieur le Président.
I thank the French Presidency for convening this legally mandated meeting.
I would like to start by stating the obvious and emphasize that the UN sanctions against Iran have been reimposed and remain in force. They reflect binding international law and all UN Member States, including the Members of this Council, are obliged to respect and implement them.
The 1737 Committee has also been re-established and is exercising its mandate, as reflected in its engagement on the relevant exemption procedures despite the unprecedented delay in the appointment of chairs of the Security Council’s subsidiary bodies in 2026, preventing this Council from discharging its mandate.
It is regrettable in this regard that we are again unable to reach an agreement on the 90-day report of the 1737 Committee. This follows the recent equally disappointing lack of agreement on new listings and a Panel of Experts.
Mr. President,
Sanctions of the Security Council sanctions are a critical instrument under international law to curb unlawful behaviour of states. Their reimposition has followed the continued and systematic failure by Iran to live up to its international binding obligations, most notably under the JCPoA, the NPT, and the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. This week the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna have decided to refer Iran’s long-standing non-compliance to this Council. We sincerely hope that all Members of this Council will take this referral seriously.
Iran has withheld required access for IAEA inspectors. The IAEA has repeatedly stated that it has lost the continuity of knowledge on highly-enriched uranium stockpiles in Iran. Enrichment up to 60 percent has been previously reported and this cannot in any way be reconciled with any peaceful purposes. Only unhindered access to IAEA inspectors to all relevant sites and a return to meaningful negotiations would comprise a legitimate starting point for a diplomatic process to lift existing sanctions on Iran.
Mr. President,
Instead of efforts to resolve these outstanding issues, Iran has been escalating further. Its neighbours have continued to suffer from unprovoked attacks, the regional security environment and conflict resolution efforts are undermined by its proxies and we are all experiencing Iran’s detrimental attempts to hold the global economy hostage. It has tried using an international waterway as leverage, in complete disregard of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. It has severely disrupted countless crucial supply chains, most notably, that of fertilizers, putting millions of lives around the globe at risk of food insecurity. Iran must cease these reckless actions – the humanitarian consequences have been far too grave.
Unfortunately, these are only the latest manifestations of Iran’s destabilizing influence across the region and beyond. We strongly condemn Iran's support to Russia in its aggression, terrorizing Ukrainian civilians, often with the same weapons Iran has been using against its neighbours in the Gulf.
Mr. President,
Diplomacy remains the best instrument for achieving a comprehensive solution to ensure that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon. Until then, the sanctions will remain in place.
Efforts to dispute legal facts do not alter the obligations of all states under international law. Latvia will continue to constructively engage on this issue to uphold Council decisions, including the 1737 sanctions regime, until the actions of Iran substantively change.
I thank you!