Reuters
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The UN Security Council did not adopt a resolution on Friday to permanently lift sanctions against Iran, but Tehran and the major European powers still have eight days to try to agree to the delay.
The 15-member UN Security Council had to vote for Friday’s resolution after the UK, France and Germany began the 30-day process on August 28th and reimposed UN sanctions. Iran denies that it has such an intention.
Russia, China, Pakistan and Algeria voted in favor of the draft text on Friday. Nine members voted against it, and two abstained.
The Security Council vote is currently setting a week of intense diplomacy, but world leaders, including Iranian President Masuud Pezeshkian, are in New York for the annual high-level UN General Assembly.
The UK, France and Germany are offering to delay the revival of sanctions for up to six months, in order to reserve space for consultations on long-term contracts on Tehran’s nuclear program, if Iran restores access to UN nuclear inspectors.
“If these most basic conditions are not met, there is no clear path to a quick diplomatic solution. We regret that Iran has failed to take these measures so far, and we encourage him to act now.” “We are ready to be more involved, diplomatically, in the next week, to try to resolve the differences.”
Delaying reiteration of sanctions requires a resolution from the Security Council. All UN sanctions will be reimposed if the extension is not reached by the end of September 27th.
U.S. ambassador Dorothy Shea said the US voted “no” on Friday but “doesn’t hinder the possibility of real diplomacy,” adding that the return of sanctions against Iran “will not be ruled out through later diplomacy.”
“More importantly, President Trump continues to repeat the US’s continued preparations for meaningful, direct, timebound dialogues with Iran, either on September 27 or before the end of the snapback process after that,” she told the council.
French UN ambassador Jerome Bonafont said that foreign ministers of Germany, France and the UK have met with their Iranian counterparts twice since the 30-day process known as snapbacks.
“Our hands remain stretched to find a negotiated solution,” he told the council before the vote.
Separately, Iran’s strategic allies, Russia and China, completed a Security Council resolution late last month to extend the 2015 deal and urge all parties to resume negotiations immediately. But they haven’t asked for a vote yet.
