During the annual gathering of world leaders at the UN Security Council in New York next week, US President Donald Trump plans to chair a session on Iran aimed at discussing the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, according to a “concept paper” distributed by the US permanent mission.
The paper, partly published by Asharq Al-Awsat on Friday, said the meeting next week aims to supply all international treaties, customs and agreements with “claws” to face countries using and spreading WMD, particularly states such as Iran.
“The Security Council must identify ways to ensure its resolutions on WMD threats are respected,” the concept note says. “States that violate these resolutions must be held accountable. In addition, all breaches of non-proliferation treaties and agreements must be treated seriously with consequences.”
Trump will also tell the Security Council that it must find new ways to punish countries that violate its resolutions limiting weapons of mass destruction, therefore, calling on Security Council members to use sanctions and political pressure in this regard.
“The Security Council has regularly adopted resolutions to counter WMD threats. But those resolutions are often flouted without penalty,” the draft explained.
The US presidency will not allow any Iranian representative to speak during next Wednesday’s meeting.
“Only Security Council members are invited to speak at this meeting due to time constraints and the general nature of the topic,” the concept memo notes.
Iran is not a member of the 15-member Council.
Early this month, US Ambassador Nikki Haley told reporters that Trump was chairing the meeting “to address Iran’s violations of international law and the general instability Iran sows throughout the entire Middle East region.”
Last May, Trump withdrew from an accord between Iran and six world powers aimed at stalling Tehran’s nuclear capabilities in return for lifting some sanctions.
However, Trump ordered the re-imposition of US sanctions suspended under the deal.
