UN warns of ‘descent into conflict’ as Security Council reviews Iran nuclear deal
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned of the profoundly alarming risk of further military escalation between Iran and Israel, as the Security Council prepares to meet on Tuesday to review the implementation of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal under Resolution 2231.
According to an advance copy of the Secretary-General’s 19th report, obtained by Iran International from a Security Council member ahead of its official release, Guterres condemned the Israeli strikes on Iranian territory — including on nuclear-related sites — and Iran’s retaliatory attacks.
“I am profoundly alarmed by the ongoing military escalation,” Guterres writes in his report on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015).
He urged both sides to exercise “maximum restraint” and avoid a “descent into deeper conflict.”
“Diplomacy remains the best and only way to address concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear program and regional security issues,” the report added.
A fragile ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump — and confirmed by both Tehran and Jerusalem — is currently in effect. However, in the early hours after the ceasefire took effect on Tuesday morning, both sides accused each other of breaches.
Guterres repeated his call for immediate de-escalation and a return to diplomacy. “The only path to peace and prosperity is through a diplomatic solution that ensures the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program,” the report says.
The meeting on Tuesday will feature briefings by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, Slovenia’s Ambassador Samuel Žbogar — the current Security Council facilitator for Resolution 2231 — and a European Union representative in their capacity as JCPOA coordinator.
Goals of nuclear deal yet unmet
The report said that the core goals of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) remain unrealized, even as the resolution’s provisions are set to expire in October. “The objectives of the resolution and those of the Plan have yet to be fully realized.”
The secretary-general expressed support for recent diplomatic efforts between Iran and the US, which have included five rounds of indirect talks mediated by Oman.
In a March joint statement shared with Guterres, China, Iran, and Russia stressed the importance of preserving Resolution 2231’s framework and warned against actions that could escalate tensions.
Beijing later submitted a five-point proposal advocating for a step-by-step diplomatic resolution and reaffirming the JCPOA as a viable path forward.
However, Western governments remain skeptical. France, Germany, and the UK told the Council earlier in June that Iran is in “extensive violation” of its JCPOA obligations and is producing enriched uranium at levels far beyond the deal’s limits.
The trio warned they may trigger the so-called snapback of UN sanctions if no progress is made.
Iran rejected the accusations, blaming the US withdrawal from the deal in 2018 and subsequent European inaction for the current crisis. Tehran warned that any move to reimpose sanctions could prompt its withdrawal from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Russia also backed Iran’s position, accusing Western nations of violating the agreement and dismissing efforts to paint Iran’s nuclear program as a threat to international peace.
IAEA raises alarm
A recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimates Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile at over 9,200 kilograms — more than 45 times the JCPOA’s cap — with significant quantities enriched up to 60%, a level close to weapons-grade.
The IAEA warned it had lost continuity of knowledge over much of Iran’s nuclear activities since early 2021, raising further concerns about transparency and oversight.
The UN nuclear watchdog confirmed that it continues to oversee procurement notifications under the resolution. Eight new nuclear-related notifications were received since December 2024, according to the report.
Slovenia’s Žbogar is expected to present a separate report to the Council outlining these developments, while the EU representative will provide an update on the status of the JCPOA’s implementation.