UN Security Council fails to adopt draft resolution blocking Iran sanctions 'snapback'

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - The UN Security Council on Friday failed to adopt a draft resolution aimed at preventing the "snapback" of sanctions on Iran that were lifted under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The draft resolution, submitted by South Korea in its capacity as the council president this month, sought to maintain sanctions relief by deciding that provisions from earlier council sanctions resolutions "remain terminated."

It failed to secure the required nine votes for adoption, with Russia, China, Pakistan and Algeria voting in favor, while Guyana and South Korea abstained.

Nine members of the council, namely the UK, France, Denmark, Slovenia, Sierra Leone, Panama, the US, Greece and Somalia, voted against.

As a result, the resolution failed, paving the way for sanctions to be reinstated under the JCPOA's "snapback" mechanism and Security Council resolution 2231, which endorsed the nuclear deal in 2015.

The UK, France, and Germany, known as the E3, are signatories to the 2015 nuclear agreement, which placed limits on Iran's nuclear activities.

Under the pact, endorsed by the UN Security Council, Iran agreed to limit its uranium enrichment and allow international inspectors to verify that its nuclear program served only peaceful purposes.

After US and Israeli attacks on Iran, Tehran halted cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, claiming that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was biased against it.

On Aug. 28, the E3 countries triggered the "snapback" mechanism under UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which will restore sanctions in 30 days if Iran fails to meet its obligations.