Iran Says US Arms Embargo Push at UN Will Fail
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by Reuters and Algemeiner Staff
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Official Presidential website / Handout via Reuters.
US efforts to get the UN Security Council to extend an arms embargo on Tehran would fail, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a televised speech on Wednesday, a day after American officials circulated a revised proposal.
Washington streamlined its bid on Tuesday to win more support in the 15-member Security Council, but it is unlikely to overcome opposition by veto powers Russia and China to extending the weapons embargo that ends in October under Iran‘s 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers.
“Until today, the US has failed politically, and it will fail again…if such a resolution is passed…Its initiators will be responsible for the consequences,” said Rouhani, without elaborating on what Tehran’s reaction could be.
The new US resolution would extend Iran‘s arms ban “until the Security Council decides otherwise,” stating it is “essential to the maintenance of international peace and security.”
The previous US draft resolution was described by diplomats and analysts as “maximalist.” It would have required countries to inspect cargo going to or coming from Iran and included an annex of individuals and entities for targeted sanctions.
Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the revised US draft was a “very illegal” resolution.
“I am certain that the Security Council will reject (it).”
Although US President Donald Trump exited the nuclear deal in 2018, Washington has threatened to use a provision in the accord to trigger a return of all UN sanctions on Iran if the Security Council does not extend the arms embargo indefinitely.
Renewed sanctions — a move known as “snapback” — would likely kill the nuclear deal, under which Iran agreed to curb its sensitive uranium enrichment program in exchange for lifting most sanctions on Tehran.
Washington has reimposed harsh economic and financial sanctions on the Islamic Republic since 2018. In retaliation, Iran has gradually scaled back its commitments set by the nuclear deal.
