Security Council Extends until July 2016 Panel of Experts to Support Committee Monitoring Iran Sanctions, Agreeing to Review Matter as Developments Warrant

The Security Council this morning extended the mandate of the Panel of Experts that assists the Committee monitoring sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear programme, until 9 July 2016, while keeping the mandate under review pending developments.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2224 (2015), the Council, in extending the  mandate of the Panel supporting the so-called 1737 Iran Sanction Committee a month before it was due to expire, expressed its intention to review the mandate and take appropriate action regarding a further extension no later than 9 June 2016.  It requested the Secretary-General to take the necessary administrative measures to that effect.

In his last briefing to the Council on 24 March, Committee Chair Román Oyarzun of Spain affirmed that the sanctions regime imposed on Iran by the Council remained fully in effect while negotiations with the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States) regarding the country’s nuclear programme proceeded (see Press Release SC/11830).

The meeting started at 10:02 a.m. and adjourned at 10:04 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 2224 (2015) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its previous relevant resolutions, including resolution 1696 (2006), resolution 1737 (2006), resolution 1747 (2007), resolution 1803 (2008), 1835 (2008), 1887 (2009), 1929 (2010), 1984 (2011), 2049 (2012), 2105 (2013), and 2159 (2014), as well as the statement of its President of 29 March 2006 (S/PRST/2006/15), and reaffirming their provisions,

“Recalling the creation, pursuant to paragraph 29 of resolution 1929 (2010), of a Panel of Experts, under the direction of the Committee, to carry out the tasks provided for by that paragraph,

“Recalling the 7 November 2014 interim report by the Panel of Experts appointed by the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraph 29 of resolution 1929 (2010) and the 1 June 2015 final report (S/2015/401) by the Panel,

“Recalling the methodological standards for reports of sanctions monitoring mechanisms contained in the Report of the Informal Working Group of the Security Council on General Issues of Sanctions (S/2006/997),

“Welcoming the efforts made by the Secretariat to expand and improve the roster of experts for the Security Council Subsidiary Organs Branch, bearing in mind the guidance provided by the Note of the President (S/2006/997),

“Emphasizing, in that regard, the importance of credible, fact-based, independent assessments, analysis, and recommendations, in accordance with the mandate of the Panel of Experts, as specified in paragraph 29 of resolution 1929 (2010),

“Determining that proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as their means of delivery, continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security,

“Acting under Article 41 of Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

“1.   Decides to extend until 9 July 2016 the mandate of the Panel of Experts, as specified in paragraph 29 of resolution 1929 (2010), expresses its intent to review the mandate and take appropriate action regarding further extension no later than 9 June 2016, and requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary administrative measures to this effect;

“2.   Requests the Panel of Experts to provide to the Committee no later than 9 November 2015 a midterm report on its work, and further requests that, after a discussion with the Committee, the Panel of Experts submit to the Council its midterm report by 9 December 2015, and requests also a final report to the Committee by 9 May 2016 with its findings and recommendations, and further requests that, after a discussion with the Committee, the Panel of Experts submit to the Council its final report by 9 June 2016;

“3.   Requests the Panel of Experts to provide to the Committee a planned programme of work no later than 30 days after the Panel’s reappointment, encourages the Committee to engage in regular discussions about this programme of work and to engage regularly with the Panel about its work, and further requests the Panel of Experts to provide to the Committee any updates to this programme of work;

“4.   Expresses its intent to continue to follow the work of the Panel;

“5.   Urges all States, relevant United Nations bodies and other interested parties, to cooperate fully with the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006) and the Panel of Experts, in particular by supplying any information at their disposal on the implementation of the measures imposed by resolution 1737 (2006), resolution 1747 (2007), resolution 1803 (2008), and resolution 1929 (2010);

“6.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”