Russia, China veto Iran move in UNSC

Pakistan on Thursday abstained from voting on a resolution seeking to extend the mandate of an independent panel monitoring sanctions on Iran, as China and Russia vetoed the measure, reiterating their position that all UN measures against Tehran had been lifted under the nuclear deal with world powers.

All UN sanctions on Iran were reimposed a year ago after France, Britain and Germany accused Tehran of violating the 2015 nuclear pact aimed at preventing it from developing a nuclear weapon. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons.

The reimposition included the return of an independent panel of experts to monitor and report to the 15-member Security Council on violations and recommend further action. However, the council has operated without the panel for the past year because it has been unable to agree on its appointment, which must be made by consensus.

Beijing and Moscow vetoed the Security Council resolution seeking to extend the mandate of the independent monitoring panel, reviving their argument that all UN measures against Tehran had been removed under the nuclear deal with world powers.

"We strongly urge Western colleagues to stop their very dangerous actions on the Iran front, which threaten further complication of settling of the crisis in the Persian Gulf," Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the Security Council. "The only way to resolve disagreements and to alleviate concerns ... pertaining to the Iranian nuclear programme is through political and diplomatic efforts."

Both Russia and China then vetoed the resolution, concerning the Panel of Experts of the 1737 Committee on Iran, which would have extended its mandate for independent monitoring of sanctions. Eleven council members voted in favour, while Pakistan and Somalia abstained.

Explaining Pakistan's position, the Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, stressed that the Iran nuclear issue should be addressed through peaceful means and called for a non-confrontational and cooperative approach to achieving lasting peace.

"Ongoing tensions and hostilities in the region and strikes on nuclear facilities, as well as continued differences amongst permanent members on key aspects of this file, have added to the challenges in addressing the issue through dialogue and diplomacy," he said. AGENCIES