US Ambassador to the UN: Iran is the world's number one sponsor of terrorism

On Thursday, August 7, the US ambassador to the United Nations called Iran "the world's number one state sponsor of terrorism" and warned Russia and China against a possible veto of a resolution extending arms sanctions on Iran.

Kelly Craft's comments came a day after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said his country would vote on a resolution to extend the Iran arms embargo at the United Nations Security Council next week.

Ms. Kraft stressed that if Russia and China use their veto power to block the resolution, they too would be “partnering with the number one state sponsor of terrorism.”

He then said that the United States hopes Russia and China "understand the importance of peace in the Middle East," although he believes the two countries are trying to create chaos and war beyond their borders.

Kelly Craft held a press conference with Brian Hook on Wednesday following Mr. Pompeo's remarks about the resolution extending the Iran arms embargo. However, hours after the meeting, Brian Hook resigned from his position as the US special representative for Iran.

The foreign ministers of Russia and China have previously indicated that they would veto the US-proposed resolution if it received at least nine votes from the 15 Security Council members. The two countries strongly criticized the US actions in a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Security Council last month.

Mr. Pompeo told reporters on Wednesday that some countries were “queuing up” to sell weapons to Iran, warning that doing so would further destabilize the Middle East and put Israel, Europe and American lives at risk.

Washington has warned that if the Security Council does not prevent Iran from buying and selling weapons, it will use the "trigger" mechanism that was foreseen in the nuclear agreement with Iran, and thus all sanctions against Iran will be restored.

China, Russia, and Iran, however, say that the United States has withdrawn from the nuclear deal and is unable to use this mechanism.

According to UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which was passed following the nuclear deal with Iran, the arms embargo on Iran will end on October 17 of this year.

Source: Radio Farda