UNSC to vote on proposal to delay looming Iran sanctions

A vote on the UNSC (UNSC) vote is expected, which could lead to Iran’s resumed nuclear-related sanctions.

On Friday, the UNSC will vote on a resolution that China and Russia have proposed putting a stop to the punishments’ reimposition. After the United Kingdom, France, and Germany accused Tehran of breaking a 2015 agreement that would stop it from developing nuclear weapons, UN “snapback” sanctions are scheduled to be triggered at 00:00 GMT on Saturday.

The resolution will allow the international community to reimpose an arms embargo against Tehran and a punishing global asset freeze if the council declines to approve it. The resolution seeks a six-month delay to allow for further discussions.

Additionally, Iran’s citizens and entities are prohibited from selling materials that could be used in uranium enrichment and reprocessing, as well as for the development of ballistic missiles and travel.

The UNSC’s recommendation to pass the Russian/Chinese resolution is backed up by diplomats.

Hostile behaviors

After Israel and the United States bombed the sites in June, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), had been attempting to rebuild cooperation with Tehran and resume inspections of its nuclear facilities.

Iran has threatened to retaliate by ending its cooperation with the IAEA in the event of sanctions being imposed prior to the vote.

Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi stated in a Telegram post that no hostile actions against Iran would be possible without the IAEA’s earlier statement that the country’s nuclear cooperation would remain in effect.

Otherwise, he continued, “The Islamic Republic of Iran will consider its practical commitments terminated.”

He also criticized the “European Troika,” which consists of France, Germany, and the UK, for pushing for the reimposition of sanctions, according to an article from the Iranian Students’ News Agency.

UN nuclear inspectors have been pressing Iran to grant them full access to its nuclear sites.

Araghchi met with Yvette Cooper on Thursday to talk about the disagreement, which he “strongly criticized the position of the three European countries as unjustified, illegal, and irresponsible,” according to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The resolution that would postpone the lifting of sanctions until April 18th, 2014, is expected to be presented to the UNSC later on Friday.

The draft resolution would direct “immediate resume negotiations” for all the initial parties to the deal, including the US.

The UNSC’s 15 members did not anticipate giving the resolution the nine votes needed to pass, diplomats told the AFP news agency.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated his statement at a meeting with Bolivian President Luis Arce Catacora on Thursday, saying Tehran is “fully prepared for any scenario” in the event that the UN General Assembly is reinstated.

Pezeshkian reiterated in his first UN address on Wednesday that Tehran will “never attempt to build a nuclear bomb.”

Iran has long argued that it is not seeking nuclear weapons, citing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s edict, and that US intelligence has not determined whether Iran has chosen to develop nuclear weapons.