UNSC to vote on proposal to delay looming Iran sanctions

"UNSC resolution to delay action likely to fail; Iran warns deal with IAEA will be terminated if sanctions, due at midnight GMT, are reinstated. The UNSC will vote on Friday on a resolution proposed by Russia and China seeking a delay to reimposing the penalties. UN snapback sanctions are set to be triggered at 00:00 GMT on Saturday, after the United Kingdom, France and Germany accused Tehran of violating a 2015 deal aimed at preventing it from developing a nuclear weapon."

"Should the council not approve the resolution, which seeks a six-month delay to allow for further talks, it will pave the way for the international community to reimpose an arms embargo against Tehran and a punishing global asset freeze. The sanctions also ban the sale of materials that could be used in uranium enrichment and reprocessing, as well as ballistic missile development and travel of Iranian individuals and entities."

"The UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), had been trying to rebuild cooperation with Tehran and resume inspections of its nuclear facilities after Israel and the United States bombed the sites in June. Before the vote, Iran has threatened to retaliate by ending its cooperation with the IAEA should sanctions be imposed. In a post on Telegram, Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said Tehran's agreement forged earlier this month with the IAEA on inspection of its nuclear sites would remain in effect only"

The United Nations Security Council will vote on a Russian and Chinese resolution seeking a six-month delay to reimposing snapback sanctions on Iran. Snapback penalties are scheduled to be triggered at 00:00 GMT after the UK, France and Germany accused Tehran of violating the 2015 nuclear agreement. If the council rejects the delay, sanctions would reinstate an arms embargo, global asset freezes and bans on materials for uranium enrichment, reprocessing and ballistic missile development. The IAEA had been rebuilding inspections with Tehran, but Iran warned it would end cooperation if sanctions are reinstated.

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