The United Nations Security Council has on Friday, August 14, rejected the United States of America's proposal to extend the arms embargo on Iran.

Premiumtimes report that Dian Djani, Indonesia's ambassador to the UN and President of the council for August, made this known while briefing journalists on the outcome of the council's meeting on the issue.

According to Mr. Dian, two veto powers holders China and Russia, among the 15-member voted against the US-sponsored resolution, while 11 countries including the United Kingdom, France and Germany, abstained.

“Only two countries, the U.S. itself and the Dominican Republic, voted in favour,” he said.

The ban is supposed to be expired in October under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the joint Comprehesive Plan of Action.

China's ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun, in a statement released after the meeting, said the result of the voting showed that “unilateralism receives no support and bullying will fail’’.

Germany formally declined to vote either for or against the US's proposal because it was obvious from the onset that the proposal would fall due to opposition from China and Russia.

While notting that, it shared concernes noting that it shared concerns about the forthcoming expiration of the ban, it said more time was needed to find a common ground on the issue.

Reacting to the proposal's rejection by the Council, US ambassador to the UN Kelly Kraft, said her country would stop at nothing to extend the arms embargo.

Meanwhile, Iranian counterpart, Majid Ravanchi, warned the U.S. against any further move for sanctions against his country.


Imposition of any sanctions or restrictions on Iran by the Security Council will be met severely by Iran and our options are not limited.

“And the United States and any entity which may assist it or acquiesce in its illegal behaviour will bear the full responsibility,” Mr Ravanchi said in a statement.

Also reacting, U.S. Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, described the Security Council’s decision as “inexcusable’’, saying it had failed in its primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security.

“The United Nations Security Council is charged with the responsibility of maintaining international peace and security. It failed today to uphold its fundamental mission set.

“It rejected a reasonable resolution to extend the 13-year old arms embargo on Iran and paved the way for the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism to buy and sell conventional weapons without specific UN restrictions in place for the first time in over a decade.

“The Security Council’s failure to act decisively in defense of international peace and security is inexcusable,’’ he said.

However, In a statement, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin proposed a summit with the U.S. and other parties to the Iran nuclear deal to avoid further “confrontation and escalation” at the United Nations over Iran.


source: https://insidenaija.com.ng/un-rejects-us-proposal-to-extend-arms-embargo-on-iran/

Much better. Trump has reduced US Foreign negotiation powers. I'm sure he's going to cry foul without thinking he was being oppressive.