Security Council divided over sanctions

The United Nations Security Council met on Thursday to discuss issues related to Iran's nuclear program amid sharp divisions among members over UN sanctions and the escalating crisis in the Middle East.

China's permanent representative to the UN, Fu Cong, told the Security Council during a mandated meeting of the 1737 Sanctions Committee that China is "seriously concerned" that the US decision to hold this meeting now will aggravate tensions in the Middle East and harm prospects for a political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.

"Against the backdrop of renewed fighting in the Middle East and an unprecedentedly complex and severe situation surrounding the Iranian nuclear issue, the president of the council insists on holding this meeting, which will aggravate contradictions and confrontations among all parties and undermine the prospects for a political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue," said Fu.

The meeting took place as part of the council's consideration of a sanctions committee established in 2006 to oversee sanctions on Iran's nuclear program. The committee was required to report to the council every 90 days.

The committee was suspended under Resolution 2231 following the 2015 Iran nuclear deal — the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA.

In August, France, Germany and the UK, known as the E3, triggered the JCPOA's "snapback" mechanism to restore UN sanctions, following the United States' withdrawal from the agreement in 2018. Israel, the United States and several European countries say Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, while Tehran denies this.

The US, which holds the council presidency this month, convened the meeting to resume reporting by the sanctions committee. While the US on Thursday accused China and Russia of "blocking" the committee's work, the two countries opposed the move, saying the committee no longer exists.

"China has repeatedly pointed out that the E3's attempt to trigger the snapback mechanism has procedural and legal flaws. Resolution 2231 expired on Oct 18 last year, and the Security Council has terminated its consideration of the Iranian nuclear issue," said Fu.

Fu added that China supports the procedural motion proposed by Russia's UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya and "does not intend to comment on the work of the committee".

"The United States and Israel must immediately stop military operations, refrain from attacking Iranian facilities under IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) safeguards, avoid further escalation and prevent the conflict from spreading across the Middle East," said Fu.

He said the crisis was "triggered by the United States' unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA" and by its military actions with Israel during negotiations with Iran, saying the US' actions "violate international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter".

"European countries should stop fueling the tension and play a constructive role in easing the situation," Fu added.

Fu said the Security Council's actions "cannot serve as a tool for sanctions or the political agenda of individual countries" and "countries should stop politicizing the council".

minluzhang@chinadailyusa.com