UN Security Council retains Iran sanctions, delay still possible

The United Nations Security Council did not adopt a draft resolution on Friday to permanently lift sanctions on Iran, but Tehran and key European powers still have eight days to try and agree to a delay.

The UN Security Council voted on a draft resolution after Britain, France, and Germany initiated a 30-day process on 28 August to reimpose sanctions, accusing Tehran of violating the 2015 nuclear deal.

Russia, China, Pakistan and Algeria voted in favor of the draft text on Friday. Nine members voted against and two abstained.

IRAN SAYS VOTE OUTCOME 'WEAKENS DIPLOMACY'

"The door for diplomacy is not closed, but it will be Iran, not adversaries, who decide with whom and on what basis to engage," Iran's UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani told reporters after the vote.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will meet with his European counterparts in New York next week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, he said, adding that Friday's divided vote showed there was "no consensus in the council". 

"This decision weakens diplomacy and risks dangerous consequences for non-proliferation," Iravani said.

Britain, France, and Germany have proposed delaying sanctions for up to six months to facilitate talks on a long-term nuclear deal, contingent on Iran allowing UN inspectors, addressing uranium stock concerns, and engaging with the U.S.

"Without these most basic conditions being met, there is no clear path to a swift diplomatic solution," Britain's UN  Ambassador Barbara Woodward told the council. 

U.S. REMAINS READY TO ENGAGE, ENVOY SAYS

Acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea stated that the U.S. "no" vote doesn't hinder diplomacy, and that sanctions on Iran can be lifted later through negotiations.

"More importantly, President Trump has continued to reiterate the United States’ ongoing readiness for meaningful, direct, and timebound dialogue with Iran – be it prior to the conclusion of the snapback process on 27 September, or after," she told the council.

Meanwhile, Russia and China, allies of Iran, finalised a resolution to extend the 2015 deal for six months and call for immediate negotiations, but haven’t requested a vote. Both have rejected the European push to reimpose sanctions.

China's UN Ambassador Fu Cong warned that triggering snapback could derail diplomatic efforts and lead to unforeseen catastrophic consequences.

Tags

InternationalRelations UNGA UNSecurityCouncil IranNuclearDeal Sanctions iran sanctions middleeast GlobalPolitics USA