I would like to express my gratitude to USG Di Carlo, Ambassador Frazier and Ambassador Skoog for their valuable and candid briefings and their respective efforts in supporting and monitoring implementation of UNSCR 2231.

For the past four years, Iran’s violations of its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action have undermined global peace and security. The speed with which Iran has escalated its nuclear programme is alarming.

The discovery of particles containing up to 83.7% enriched uranium in Fordow in January of this year, represented yet another escalatory development that brings Iran dangerously close to engaging in weapons-related activities.

With over 2,500 powerful advanced centrifuges, Iran has expanded its stockpile of enriched uranium to more than 21 times the JCPoA limit.

Put differently, Iran now possesses almost three times the amount of nuclear material required for a nuclear explosive device.

Against this backdrop, it is imperative that the International Atomic Energy Agency is in a position to promptly report any further such escalation.

Yet, for over two years, the Iranian denial of access has blindsided the Agency and with it the whole international community.

Iran’s proclaimed efforts to increase cooperation with the IAEA have fallen markedly short of expectations.

As emphasized by the Director General in his most recent report, Iran must promptly return to full and effective cooperation with the IAEA.

Iran’s nuclear activities also warrant particular scrutiny of its ongoing advances in space launch vehicle technology and testing of ballistic missiles.

Despite the restrictions under UNSCR 2231, Iran continues to carry out launches using missiles, which could be capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

In a further blatant violation of UNSCR 2231, Iran continues to transfer missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles to partners and proxies in the region and beyond.

With the transfer of such vehicles to Russia, and plans to establish a production facility within Russia, Iran’s violations have reached a new level of severity.

Iran can no longer deny full knowledge that Russia has been using these UAVs against densely populated areas in Ukraine, to target cities and critical infrastructure, in order to terrorize the Ukrainian population.

We call upon Iran to halt immediately any support of Russia’s war of aggression and recall that indiscriminate attacks on civilians constitute a war crime.

We welcome the prospect of a visit by UN experts to Ukraine, in line with the Government of Ukraine’s request and past practice.

Germany regrets Iran’s consistent refusal to seize multiple diplomatic opportunities to restore and fully implement the JCPoA, the last of which was Iran’s refusal to accept a proposal it had negotiated for weeks in Vienna last August.

Concrete and verifiable nuclear de-escalation measures are urgently required to de-escalate the situation and pave the way for further steps.

We call on Iran to immediately re-establish full co-operation with IAEA and to live up to its commitments as set out in the Joint Statement of March 4. We call on all states to work together to address this critical situation and safeguard international peace and security.