Russia vetoes UN Security Council resolution on Iran

NEW YORK, (Patria) - Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution stating that Iran violated the arms embargo imposed against Yemen.

Iran violated the embargo by not preventing the delivery of missiles and drones to the Shiite rebels in Yemen, Beta reports.

11 countries voted for the resolution proposed by Great Britain, Russia and Bolivia voted against, and China and Kazakhstan abstained from voting.  

The basis for Great Britain's proposal is the January report of the UN panel of experts monitoring the implementation of sanctions. The panel examined the remnants of missiles that Yemeni Houthi rebels fired into Saudi Arabia last year and determined that it was an Iranian "kiam-1" missile.  

The panel concluded that Iran does not comply with the 2015 UN resolution on the prohibition of arms delivery to warring parties in Yemen and that it "has not taken the necessary measures" to prevent the delivery of missiles and drones.  

Britain's Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Jonathan Allen, called on the Security Council members to "not shy away from calling out those whose actions undermine international peace and security".  

- The Council must be firm against non-compliance (with sanctions) and send a clear message that this will not be tolerated - said the British diplomat.   To gain Russia's support, the condemnation of Iran was omitted from the draft resolution, and then, at the end of the negotiations on the text, a warning that there would be "additional measures" against those who violate the arms embargo.  

However, Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzia, was not satisfied with the text. He accused Great Britain of "sowing discord at a time when the Security Council desperately needs to be united" by putting the resolution to a vote when it knew a veto would be cast.  

Nebenzia assessed that the UN panel of experts' "selective and controversial conclusions" were "unverified" and warned that the resolution would have dangerous, destabilizing consequences in Yemen and the region.  

The Russian official warned of the danger of "playing geopolitical maps" and escalating relations in the Middle East between Sunnis and Shiites.   The Iranian delegation to the UN categorically denied yesterday that it was transferring weapons to Yemen.  

US Ambassador for Economic and Social Affairs, Kelly Currie, said that the Security Council's inability to adopt the British resolution represents "a setback in collective efforts to promote peace in Yemen".  

US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, who was on her way to Central America, said in a statement that "if Russia is going to use its veto to block action against Iran's dangerous and destabilizing behavior, the US and its partners will have to take actions against Iran that Russia cannot block".