New york: A double veto by Russia and China in the United Nations Security Council has thwarted a US-drafted resolution aimed at prolonging the mandate of the Panel of Experts that supports the Iran Sanctions Committee, originally established under Resolution 1737. The resolution, which was primarily backed by Western countries, was put forward amidst growing tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the draft resolution did not pass due to the vetoes exercised by Moscow and Beijing. Meanwhile, Pakistan and Somalia chose to abstain from the vote. Russia’s representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, articulated his country’s stance, rejecting the use of the Security Council as a platform for settling political disagreements with Iran. He further highlighted that Resolution 2231, which pertains to the nuclear agreement, is set to expire in October 2025, rendering any attempts to invoke the “snapback” mechanism ineffective and without legal standing.

The US initiative, which found support among European nations, came on the heels of heightened tensions concerning Iran’s nuclear activities. This move followed a resolution passed by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors, which criticized Iran for not fully complying with the safeguards agreement.