Russia and China veto UN Security Council draft to extend Iran sanctions panel mandate

Russia and China vetoed a US-drafted UN Security Council resolution that would have extended the mandate of the expert panel of the Iran sanctions committee until September 2027.

• Russia and China vetoed the US draft, which called for extending the Iran sanctions expert panel's mandate until September 2027.
• The draft would have required the panel to issue recommendations within 90 days of reappointment and to submit quarterly updates and an annual report.
• The US deputy representative said the veto was not surprising to Washington and that the panel would have highlighted prohibited bilateral defense cooperation between Iran and its partners.
• She said the US will seek to establish an expert panel, appoint a committee chair, and publish an updated sanctions list.
• Russian UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow does not consider the sanctions committee under Resolution 1737 and its expert panel legally legitimate.
• He rejected Western assertions that the 2025 snapback reimposing Iran sanctions was activated, saying pre-2015 resolutions are no longer in force.
• He accused Western states of using the Iran nuclear file to pressure Tehran and called for political and diplomatic solutions respecting Iran's rights.
• The resolution received 11 votes in favor, with Pakistan and Somalia abstaining.
• Iran's UN mission thanked Russia and China for blocking what it called a 'politically motivated' draft.