Security Council rejects US bid on Iran sanctions

Washington left isolated after failing to secure backing for push to reimpose curbs

The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday blocked a bid by the United States to reimpose international sanctions on Iran, saying it could not proceed with the disputed move.

Indonesia, which assumed the presidency of the council in August, said it is "not in a position to take further action" on Washington's request.

During a video conference on the Middle East, Indonesia's Ambassador to the UN Dian Triansyah Djani cited the lack of consensus in the UN's highest body on the US strategy as the main reason.

The administration of US President Donald Trump accuses Iran of failing to comply with the terms of the historic 2015 Iran nuclear deal, demanding that the Security Council reimpose sanctions on the country.

Washington had insisted on its legal right to trigger the disputed procedure, called "snapback"-despite pulling out of the deal two years ago.

In a related development, Iran's nuclear body said it held "constructive" talks on Tuesday with the visiting head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The US' move in the Security Council had threatened to torpedo the Iran accord and plunge the body into crisis, while widening the gulf between the US and almost every other member on Iran policy.

Thirteen of the 15 council members had written to the Indonesian presidency to reject its validity.

The US "is alone" in its approach, and "their ultimate goal is to destroy the nuclear agreement when they have already imposed (national) sanctions on Iran," one diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity told Agence France-Presse.

Another said that, with the sound rejection of the US bid by almost the entire council, "normally the matter is closed", according to AFP.

Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN, said: "China attaches great importance to the Iranian nuclear issue. We are committed to upholding multilateralism, safeguarding the international nuclear nonproliferation regime and maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East.

'No legal ground'

"The US is no longer a JCPOA(Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) participant. JCPOA participants and the overwhelming majority of council members believe that US demand for restoring UN sanctions on Iran has no legal ground and goes against common views, and the snapback mechanism shall not be deemed as invoked.

"We stand ready to work with other parties to push forward the political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue."

During the conference, Zhang also called on the international community to act on the Middle East peace process with a sense of urgency.

Growing tensions between Palestine and Israel "have put the peace process in jeopardy and heightened the risk of regional conflicts," he said.

Zhang added that the international community should firmly promote a peaceful settlement based on a two-state solution.

"Independent statehood is the inalienable national right of the Palestinian people, and it cannot be compromised or bargained away," he said.

"We hope that relevant parties will take concrete actions to advance the political process and pave the way for early resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel on an equal footing."

Zhang also said that relevant UN resolutions, the "land for peace "principle and the two-state solution set the course for a final settlement.

"They are important parameters in the Middle East peace process and must be observed and reaffirmed," he said.

With a recent escalation of tension on the Gaza Strip, Zhang urged relevant parties to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any hostile actions that may further aggravate the fragile security situation. He reiterated that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's call for a global cease-fire should be heeded.

Zhang also noted with concern the increased demolitions of Palestinian-owned structures in the West Bank that lead to more displacement.

"Concrete efforts must be made to implement Security Council Resolution 2334, including ceasing all settlement activities, stopping demolitions and preventing violence against civilians," he said.

Agencies contributed to the story.