Iran’s Missile Prohibition Sunsets Today, Representing A Massive Failure By The International Community

(New York, N.Y.) — Today is Transition Day – the day that restrictions on the Islamic Republic’s missile program set by United Nations (U.N.) Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2231, which endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), expires. The sunset will inevitably empower the Iranians to develop their program without repercussions.

As a result, Iran can no longer be called to abstain from activities related to nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, including testing. Additionally, the U.N. Security Council will no longer be obligated to approve Iran’s import and export of items that could contribute to developing a nuclear weapon delivery system or the development of rockets currently used by Iranian proxy terror organizations across the region and world. 

The expiration of UNSCR 2231’s missile restrictions represent a historic failure by the international community to mitigate Iran’s nuclear capabilities. At its current rate, Iran can develop nuclear weapon delivery systems, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), that could reach the U.S. as soon as 2025. The recent expulsion of IAEA inspectors after several investigations into highly enriched uranium at Iranian enrichment facilities indicates that they intend to do this.  

Tehran will also likely continue its concealment efforts and use of front companies to make illicit missile and drone procurements more challenging to detect. In this new, more permissive environment, Iran can more easily sell weapons to Hamas – the Iranian-backed terrorist organization that instigated the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Iran has also been identified as the primary supplier of drones to Russian forces in their war against Ukraine.  

Frustrated with Iran's nuclear enrichment breaches, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany said they would maintain missile and nuclear proliferation sanctions on Iran. The three European countries said that their extension of sanctions did not violate the agreement because Iran refused to return to the JCPOA and “continued to expand its program beyond JCPOA limitations and without any credible civilian justification.”  

UANI recommends that U.S. allies—with American support—still invoke the snapback sanctions provision under UNSCR 2231. This mechanism expires in 2025 and can still restore previous U.N. resolutions despite today’s sunset.

To read UANI’s report JCPOA: Sunset Alert: Missile Restrictions, please click here.

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