China explains veto on Iran sanctions panel at UN General Assembly

China on Thursday said its veto of a UN Security Council draft resolution on Iran sanctions was aimed at preserving diplomatic efforts and addressing disputes over the Iranian nuclear issue through negotiations.

Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said China opposed the draft in part because it considered efforts to restore previous UN sanctions on Iran "legally and procedurally flawed".

"The initiation of the 'snapback' mechanism was flawed both legally and procedurally," Sun told a meeting of the UN General Assembly.

The Security Council on Sept 17 failed to adopt a US-drafted resolution that would have extended the mandate of a panel of experts monitoring sanctions on Iran, after China and Russia vetoed the measure.

The draft received 11 votes in favor, with China and Russia voting against and two members abstaining. It sought to extend the mandate of the 1737 Committee's Iran sanctions Panel of Experts until September 2027.

China and Russia dispute the validity of the snapback and have said that Resolution 2231 expired in October 2025, meaning the previous sanctions regime and its subsidiary bodies were not restored.

Sun said the current situation surrounding the Iranian nuclear issue stemmed from the US unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, its "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran and its use of military force while negotiations with Iran were underway.

He also said Britain, France and Germany had "failed to fulfill their obligations under the JCPOA or exhaust its dispute settlement procedures".

"Distorting the history and context of the Iranian nuclear issue, insisting on pushing for the restoration of sanctions at the Security Council, and advancing a controversial draft resolution will undermine the unity and authority of the Security Council and obstruct diplomatic efforts," Sun said. "China firmly opposes such actions," he added.

Sun said another reason for China's veto was to preserve efforts toward a political settlement. "The continued hostilities between the United States and Iran serve neither the interests of the parties concerned nor those of the international community," he said.

"Only by addressing the legitimate concerns of relevant parties through dialogue and negotiation and reaching a solution that serves the interests of all sides can the spillover effects on the economy, energy and food security be effectively prevented from further expanding," Sun said.

He called on the United States, Iran and other parties to resolve their disputes through dialogue and negotiation. He also called for normal navigation through the Strait of Hormuz to be restored as soon as possible and for an early return of peace and stability in the Gulf region.

On nuclear non-proliferation, Sun said Iran, as a non-nuclear-weapon state party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, should "fulfill its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons". And "Iran's legitimate right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy should be respected", he added.

Thursday's General Assembly meeting was held under a mechanism established in 2022 that requires the Assembly to meet within 10 working days whenever a veto is cast in the Security Council.

China, France, Russia, Britain and the United States are the Security Council's five permanent members and each holds veto power. A negative vote by any of them can block a council resolution.

Sun said China has "always exercised utmost caution in the use of the veto" and would not abandon its position on issues it considers matters of principle.

"China has no selfish interests in the Iranian nuclear issue," Sun said, adding that China would continue working with all parties toward a political settlement.