Security Council fails to extend lifting of sanctions against Iran

The Security Council failed to pass a resolution to extend the lifting of sanctions on Iran, paving the way for the return of UN sanctions against Iran.

The United Nations Security Council failed on Friday, September 19, to adopt a draft resolution aimed at extending the suspension of sanctions on Iran under the 2015 nuclear deal. This means that at the end of this month, UN sanctions will automatically be reimposed.

The draft, submitted by South Korea as the rotating president of the Security Council, received only four votes in favor. In contrast, nine countries opposed it and two members abstained. According to the recorded votes, Russia, China, Algeria and Pakistan voted in favor of the resolution, while France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Denmark, Greece, Panama and Somalia voted against, while Guyana and South Korea abstained.

This failure occurred while three European countries, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, had previously initiated the process of returning sanctions by activating the "trigger mechanism," a process that includes a 30-day period to find a diplomatic solution and is now coming to an end.

Russia's UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia, while referring to Europe's efforts to activate the trigger mechanism, said: "The countries that signed the Iran nuclear deal have no right to reimpose UN sanctions against them." He stressed that "reimposing sanctions against Iran has no legitimacy and this action is political blackmail."

The Chinese representative also supported the political approach and emphasized: "Iran's efforts should be recognized and sanctions should be suspended for a while." He also warned that re-applying pressure would undermine the diplomatic process.

In contrast, British representative Barbara Woodward cited Resolution 2231 and said: "Resolution 2231 authorizes the reimposition of sanctions against Iran." She added: "European countries have acted within the framework of their legal obligations."

The French ambassador also claimed that Iran had increased its uranium enrichment level 48 times beyond the permitted level and called for Tehran's full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

US Representative Dorothy Shea defended her country's position at the meeting, stating: "The US negative vote does not mean obstructing the path of diplomacy, but Iran has not provided the necessary conditions for extending the suspension of sanctions."

With the failure of this resolution, the return of UN sanctions against Iran has become inevitable. Pressure from the United States and three European countries shows that the Iranian nuclear issue remains one of the most challenging issues on the Security Council's agenda.