A UN Security Council resolution aimed at halting the reimposition of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program failed on Friday after weeks of last-ditch diplomatic talks appeared to break down days before the annual UN gathering of world leaders.
The resolution put forth by South Korea, the president of the 15-member council, did not garner the support of the nine countries required to halt the series of sanctions from taking effect at the end of the month, as outlined in Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
Only four countries — China, Russia, Pakistan and Algeria — supported the effort, with some using the meeting to blast the European leaders for what they called an unjustified and illegal action against Iran.
Photo: AFP
France, Germany and the UK moved last month to trigger the “snapback mechanism,” which automatically reimposes all UN sanctions that were in effect before the nuclear deal.
Those penalties included a conventional arms embargo, restrictions on ballistic missile development, asset freezes, travel bans and a ban on producing nuclear-related technology.
Using the snapback mechanism would likely heighten tensions between Iran and the West. It is unclear how Iran would respond, given that officials have previously threatened to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday emphasized its commitment to safeguarding its interests and rights, including through diplomacy, and said it reserves the right to respond appropriately to any unlawful action.
Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi has said that the reimposition of UN sanctions was “lacking any legal or logical justification.”
He also pointed to the fact that Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) earlier reached a deal to grant the watchdog access to all Iranian nuclear sites and for Tehran to report on the whereabouts of all its nuclear material.
IAEA Director Rafael Grossi last week said that the agreement “includes all facilities and installations in Iran and it also contemplates the required reporting on all the attacked facilities including the nuclear material present at those.”
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