NEW YORK: The United Nations Security Council has voted against permanently lifting economic sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme, a move that Tehran has described as “politically biased.”
In a vote held on Friday, a resolution aimed at preventing the reimposition of sanctions failed, with only four countries — Russia, China, Pakistan, and Algeria — supporting the move. Nine members voted against the resolution, while two abstained, Al Jazeera reported.
As a result, European Union sanctions on Iran are set to be reinstated by September 28 if no comprehensive agreement is reached before that deadline.
The vote followed a 30-day trigger process initiated in late August by Britain, France, and Germany (collectively known as the E3), who pushed for sanctions to return unless Iran complies with their nuclear-related demands.
Iran says Europeans ‘misusing JCPOA mechanism’
Iranian officials have accused the European trio—Britain, France, and Germany—of misusing the dispute resolution mechanism outlined in the 2015 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which permits the reimposition of sanctions through a so-called “snapback mechanism.”
“What Europeans are doing is politically biased and politically motivated … They are wrong on different levels by trying to misuse the mechanism embedded in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA),” Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said.
The Europeans offered to delay the snapback for up to six months if Iran restored access for UN nuclear inspectors and engaged in talks with the US.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that Tehran had presented a “reasonable and actionable plan” and insisted Iran remains committed to the NPT.
However, the E3—Britain, France, and Germany—have accused Tehran of violating its nuclear commitments, including amassing a uranium stockpile over 40 times the limit allowed under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
In addition, the UN’s nuclear watchdog ruled in June that Iran is not complying with international nuclear safeguard obligations.
Under the JCPOA signed by Iran, the United States, China, Russia, and the European Union, Tehran agreed to scale back its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.
However, the deal began to unravel in 2018 when the then-US President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Iran.
Tensions intensified further earlier this summer, when Israel launched a 12-day military campaign against Iran, during which Israeli and US forces targeted several Iranian nuclear facilities.
While Iran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons, it has reaffirmed its right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
