UN Security Council rejects US-sought extension on Iran arms embargo
The resolution failed by a 2-2 vote with 11 abstentions.
The United Nations Security Council overwhelmingly rejected a US-sponsored resolution today that aimed to indefinitely extend an arms embargo on Iran.
“The Security Council’s failure to act decisively in defense of international peace is inexcusable,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement late today. “We will work to ensure that the theocratic terror regime does not have the freedom to purchase and sell weapons.”
A 13-year-old conventional arms embargo on Iran is set to expire in October as part of the 2015 nuclear deal, which removed most international sanctions in exchange for Iran scaling back its nuclear activity. The United States has been heavily lobbying its peers on the council to keep weapons ban going past its expiration date.
The Dominican Republic was the lone council member to join the United States in support of the resolution. Unsurprisingly, Russia and China, which enjoy close ties with Tehran, voted against the embargo extension. The remaining 11 countries abstained.
