D-Day as UN Security Council set to vote on Iran nuclear sanctions today

The UN Security Council (UNSC) will today vote on whether to reinstate sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, the Council’s presidency said, after Britain, France and Germany triggered the process that led to the vote.

The three European countries, signatories to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) intended to stop Tehran obtaining nuclear weapons, allege that Iran has broken its promises under the 2015 treaty.

Although the UNSC has fifteen council members, only five are permanent members exercising veto power namely; China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America (USA).

The other ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.

Diplomatic sources expect that the resolution will not have the nine positive votes to uphold the status quo in which sanctions remain lifted and the measures will be reinstated.

The Council’s rotating presidency confirmed the Friday meeting which will begin at 10 am (1400 GMT).

In a letter to the UN in mid-August, the “European Three” slammed Iran for having breached several JCPOA commitments, including building up a uranium stock to more than 40 times the permitted level under the deal.

The hard-won 2015 deal has been left in tatters ever since the United States, during Donald Trump’s first presidency, walked away from it in 2018, and reimposed sanctions on Iran.

Following the US withdrawal, Tehran gradually broke away from its commitments under the agreement and began stepping up its nuclear activities, with tensions high since the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June.

The war also derailed Tehran’s nuclear negotiations with the United States and prompted Iran to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, with inspectors of the Vienna-based UN body leaving the country shortly afterwards.