World · Singapore Bureau
Russia, China block UN sanctions monitoring mandate for Iran
Moscow and Beijing have terminated a United Nations Security Council mandate that provided independent oversight of international sanctions against Iran, claiming all UN measures on Tehran were nullified under the 2015 nuclear agreement.
LSN Singapore ·
Russia and China moved Thursday to end the UN Security Council's independent monitoring mechanism for sanctions imposed on Iran, marking a significant shift in the multinational approach to enforcing restrictions on the country.
The two permanent Security Council members argued that the existing UN sanctions regime against Iran ceased to be valid following the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the landmark 2015 nuclear deal signed by Iran and world powers including the United States, France, Germany, Russia and China.
The monitoring mandate, which had been critical to verifying compliance with international sanctions, faced opposition from Moscow and Beijing, who contended that all related UN measures should have been lifted as part of the nuclear agreement's implementation. The decision reflects deepening divisions among Security Council members over Iran policy.
The termination of the monitoring mechanism complicates efforts to track Iran's adherence to international sanctions restrictions and underscores the broader geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran's nuclear programme and regional activities. The move comes amid continued international concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions and ballistic missile development.