New york: The United Nations Security Council on Friday did not succeed in adopting a resolution that sought to extend the 2015 Iran nuclear deal by six months, intended to provide additional time for diplomatic negotiations.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the draft resolution, proposed by China and Russia, garnered only four votes in favor, with nine votes against and two abstentions, falling short of the minimum nine positive votes needed for adoption. The resolution aimed to extend the nuclear agreement involving Iran and the six world powers-Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States-alongside Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the deal, for an additional six months. This extension would have also prevented a "snapback" of UN sanctions against Iran.
Friday's voting mirrored the results of a previous draft resolution submitted by the Republic of Korea on September 19, during its presidency of the Security Council for that month. If passed, that resolution would have continued to offer sanctions relief for Iran. Votes in favor of the resolution came from Algeria, China, Pakistan, and Russia, while Guyana and the Republic of Korea abstained. The remaining nine members of the Security Council opposed the draft.
The European trio of Britain, France, and Germany, part of the Iran nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), asserted that they triggered the snapback mechanism on August 28, citing Tehran's "significant non-performance" in their notification to the Security Council. Under Resolution 2231, UN sanctions in place prior to the resolution's adoption would resume 30 days post-notification unless the Security Council decides otherwise. The September 19 draft resolution to this effect was unsuccessful.
The legality of the European trio's action is under scrutiny as it bypassed the Dispute Resolution Mechanism (DRM), which under the JCPOA and Resolution 2231 has a 35-day window to resolve disputes. A snapback can only be initiated if the DRM fails.
Resolution 2231 is set to expire on October 18, after which the Security Council will no longer consider the Iran nuclear deal. China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Geng Shuang, expressed disappointment in the voting outcome, emphasizing dialogue and diplomatic solutions as the only viable path to maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East.
Russia's First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Dmitry Polyanskiy, stated that there has been no snapback of sanctions, and there will be none. He noted that the Security Council's failure to adopt the resolution means that Resolution 2231 will cease per its timeline, effectively terminating the JCPOA on October 18, leading to the cessation of any associated restrictions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi rejected any snapback of sanctions, arguing that the European trio's communication to the Security Council president cannot be considered valid under Resolution 2231 due to their breach of obligations under the JCPOA.
Araghchi further warned that attempts to revive sanctions are null and void, declaring that all nuclear-related restrictions will permanently end on October 18, 2025. He urged the UN secretary-general to refrain from reviving sanctions mechanisms within the UN Secretariat.
In light of the Security Council's decision, Araghchi emphasized that Iran's agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would be void if UN sanctions were reinstated. He highlighted a new cooperation framework with the IAEA established on September 9, warning that its activation would nullify the agreement.
Araghchi, attending the UN General Assembly in New York, stated that he had offered constructive proposals to the European trio, expressing hope for a positive resolution without escalation.