US-Iran peace deal: Why Tehran is ‘learning from past experience’ and seeking UN Security Council approval | Explained | Today’s news

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it plans to ask the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) once a final deal on its nuclear program is negotiated with the United States, the Times Of Israel reported.

According to US officials, President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) electronically on Sunday.

Esmaeil Baghaei, a spokesman for the foreign ministry, said at a weekly press briefing: “The final agreement is expected to be approved by a UN Security Council resolution after a period of 60 days”, noting that Tehran “will learn from past experiences”.

Quick answers to key questions

•5 QUESTIONS

Iran’s requirement for UN Security Council approval means that any final nuclear deal between Tehran and Washington would require approval through a UN Security Council resolution, giving the deal international legitimacy and legal weight.

Iran is seeking a UN Security Council resolution to ensure that the final deal has formal international support, which is crucial given past experience, namely the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal.

In the US, major international treaties require two-thirds approval by the Senate for ratification, while in Iran the process involves the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Guardian Council before an agreement becomes legally binding.

Key outstanding issues include the fate of Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, limits on enrichment activities and a solution to sanctions relief, all of which will be addressed in the upcoming 60-day negotiating period.

The support of the UN Security Council is significant because it provides an international framework for enforcing the agreement, making it difficult for either party to unilaterally withdraw or ignore its commitments.

The statement appeared to allude to the U.S. withdrawal in 2018 from the landmark nuclear deal Iran struck with world powers in 2015, a move that undermined an earlier deal, the report said.

What happened?

The 2015 nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was the most far-reaching diplomatic agreement between Iran and Western nations in decades.

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On July 20, 2015, the UN Security Council unanimously approved Resolution 2231, which endorsed the JCPOA, creating the legal basis for its implementation and paving the way for the lifting of UN sanctions on Iran.

The deal also included a snapback provision that allows for the rapid reinstatement of sanctions if Iran defaults on its commitments, without a veto option to block the process in the Security Council.

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However, the United States later left the agreement. In 2018, the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA, reimposed sanctions and launched a so-called maximum pressure campaign against Iran, even as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) continued to verify Tehran’s compliance with the deal’s terms.

What does UN Security Council approval mean?

In international law, the UN Security Council can formally approve major international agreements through a resolution that gives them additional international legitimacy and legal weight. While the UNSC does not “ratify” treaties in the same way as national legislatures, its support can help create a framework for the implementation and enforcement of agreements, particularly those involving peace settlements, nuclear programs or sanctions.

How ratification works

Ratification of an international agreement generally involves approval by a country’s parliament or relevant legislative bodies, if such a requirement exists under its constitution. For example, in the United States, major international treaties must secure the support of two-thirds of the Senate.

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While a country can sign an agreement and withdraw before the ratification process is complete, ratification alone makes the agreement legally binding. Once ratified, the agreement carries the full force of a country’s domestic legal obligations as well as its obligations under international law.

In Iran, both the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Guardian Council participate in the ratification process. The final instrument of ratification must then be signed by the head of state, prime minister or foreign minister before the agreement enters into legal force. Ratification is essentially the process that turns a negotiated agreement into a legally binding commitment.

Iran’s Clause 13 demand

Article 13 of the draft memorandum of understanding (MoU), published by Iran’s state-run Mehr News Agency, states that any final agreement reached between Tehran and Washington will require approval through the UN Security Council.

Article 13 outlines a requirement that goes beyond the standard bilateral ratification process. Iran is seeking not only domestic approval of the final deal in both countries, but also formal ratification through a UN Security Council resolution.

Physical signing of the agreement between the US and Iran, publication of the text

US Vice President JD Vance will oversee technical negotiations this week and attend a signing ceremony expected on June 19 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Trump, meanwhile, said during his attendance at the G7 summit in France that the text of the agreement would likely be released after Friday. However, US officials said the document was expected to be released within the next 24 to 48 hours, according to AFP.