Remarks by H.E. Mr. Fu Cong Director-General of the Department of Arms Control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China on "JCPOA: Possible Steps to Prevent Further Escalation and Sustain the Deal" at the 2019 Moscow Nonproliferation Conference

各位嘉宾，

女士们，先生们：

　　几天前，伊朗方面宣布了第四阶段减少履行伊核全面协议义务的措施，包括限制国际原子能机构对伊监督核查。中方注意到不少国家都对此表达了关切，同时也提请各方正视两点基本事实：

Excellencies, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Several days ago, the Iranian government announced the fourth step of scaling down its commitments under the JCPOA. While noting that many countries have expressed concerns on Iran's latest moves, the Chinese side reminds all parties to keep the following two fundamental points in mind.

　　第一，当前伊核紧张局势归根到底是美国极限施压所致。伊核问题本无事。美国恢复对伊单边制裁，并通过“长臂管辖”阻碍他国执行全面协议，导致伊方无法享有全面协议赋予的经济红利，被迫减少履行义务。这是伊核危机的逻辑所在。

　　第二，伊朗减少履约举措不具有实质性核扩散风险。伊朗仍在履行《不扩散核武器条约》，执行全面保障监督协定，并且一直强调只要其经济利益得到保障，可随时恢复履行全面协议。

First, the root cause of the current tension of the Iranian nuclear issue lies with the US policy of maximum pressure against Iran. The situation was originally calm until the US reimposed unilateral sanctions on Iran and impeded implementation of the JCPOA by others through long-arm jurisdiction. As a result, Iran is forced to reduce its nuclear commitments since it cannot enjoy the economic benefits embedded in the nuclear deal. This is the logic behind the Iranian nuclear crisis.

Second, Iran's reduction of its commitments under the JCPOA does not pose substantial nuclear proliferation risk. Iran is still fulfilling its NPT full-scope Safeguards obligations, and has repeatedly reiterated its readiness to reverse course at any time once the economic benefits are guaranteed.

　　当前，伊核形势正在朝着危险的方向发展。国际社会应共同努力，推动伊核问题的政治外交解决进程。

　　一是坚持维护多边主义的根本原则。全面协议由各方谈判达成，经安理会第2231号决议核可，是多边主义的重要成果。维护全面协议，就是维护多边主义，维护安理会权威，维护以国际法为基础的国际秩序。在9月伊核外长会上，协议各方重申了完整、有效执行全面协议的承诺。

Having said that, one cannot fail to recognize that the current situation of the Iranian nuclear issue is heading towards a dangerous direction. And therefore, the international community should make concerted efforts to seek a political and diplomatic solution. In this regard,China wishes to make the following points:

First, the fundamental principle of multilateralism should be upheld. The JCPOA is a hard-won victory of multilateral diplomacy, reached through negotiations and endorsed by the UN Security Council. Preserving the JCPOA serves the good purpose of safeguarding multilateralism, the authority of the UN Security Council, and the international order based on international law. In this connection, I wish to recall that at the Foreign Ministers' Meeting in September, all the remaining parties reaffirmed their commitment to the full and effective implementation of the JCPOA.

　　二是坚持维护全面协议权利和义务的平衡。全面协议既有对伊核计划发展的限制，又有对伊经济红利的保障。美方退出协议和恢复制裁打破的平衡应该得到恢复。我们支持欧方推动“贸易结算支持机制”发挥实效,尽早覆盖能源等领域,并向非欧盟国家开放。我们也支持任何有利于维护全面协议的外交努力，包括法方的“信贷机制”方案。当务之急是推动美方解除或缓解对伊朗制裁，否则任何方案都难以落地。

Second, the balance between rights and obligations under the JCPOA should be maintained. The nuclear deal not only limits Iran's nuclear program, but also guarantees Iran's economic benefits. The balance disrupted by the US withdrawal from the deal and resumption of sanctions on Iran need to be restored. We encourage our European colleagues to make more efforts to ensure that the Instrument for Supporting Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) achieve tangible results, expand the coverage of INSTEX to energy fields and open it up to Non-EU countries at an early date. We also support any diplomatic effort conducive to safeguarding the JCPOA, including the Credit Line Mechanism proposed by France. The priority in this regard should be to push the US to lift or at least ease sanctions against Iran. Otherwise, no mechanism could get off the ground.