Russia and China veto US proposal for UN experts to keep monitoring sanctions on Iran
The 11-2 vote leaves sanctions monitoring without an independent expert panel as Western states warn of a gap in reporting violations.
- On September 17, Russia and China vetoed a Security Council resolution to renew the expert panel monitoring Iran sanctions, with 11 members voting in favor and Pakistan and Somalia abstaining.
- Vassily Nebenzia, Russia's permanent representative, rejected the resolution as illegitimate, contending that sanctions snapback was never successfully triggered and past resolutions were never restored.
- The vote occurred three days after Iranian nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami was blocked from attending the IAEA General Conference in Vienna, while Western states cite Iranian enrichment to 60%.
- Sarah MacIntosh, the permanent representative from London, stated existing sanctions remain binding on all member states, while Christina Markus Lassen, Denmark's permanent representative, described the draft as a technical rollover.
- The Committee's mandate expires on September 26, leaving sanctions in force without an independent body to monitor compliance, as the Council remains divided over whether snapback restored resolutions.
117 Articles
117 Articles
Russia, China block renewal of UN panel overseeing Iran sanctions compliance
The blocked resolution sought to extend the mandate of the panel overseeing the sanctions. The move has limited practical significance, but signals that Russia and China do not intend to cooperate with efforts to enforce them against Iran
China, Russia Veto Renewal of Mandate for UN Monitoring of Iran Sanctions
Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, permanent representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, awaits the start of a United Nations Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York City on April 7, 2026.(Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
China and Russia block extension of UN Security Council group's mandate for independent monitoring of sanctions against Iran
Unilateralism serves no one’s interests: Ghalibaf hails China, Russia vetoes in UNSC in support of Iran - The Tribune
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf hailed China and Russia's vetoes at the United Nations Security Council, saying the votes rejected the "political abuse" of the Security Council and reaffirmed the rule of law.
Russia and China have vetoed the US plan to extend independent monitoring of sanctions against Iran. Sanctions remain in force, but their oversight by UN experts stops.
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