Russia raps US attempt to restore Iran sanctions

UNITED NATIONS－Russia's UN ambassador slammed the United States on Tuesday as "ridiculous" for arguing it was still a party to the Iran nuclear deal two years after it quit, so Washington could trigger a return of all United Nations sanctions on Teheran.

The United States, Russia, China, Germany, Britain and France in 2015 agreed to the deal with Iran that prevents Teheran from developing nuclear weapons in return for sanctions relief.

The UN Security Council enshrined the deal in a resolution that still names the US as a participant, even though it left. US President Donald Trump quit the agreement in 2018 and described the accord from Barack Obama's presidency as "the worst deal ever".

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, however, said last month the language in the resolution was "unambiguous" and "the rights that accrue to participants in the UN Security Council resolution are fully available to all those participants".

'No right to trigger'

He was referring to the ability of a participant to the nuclear deal－known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA－to trigger a so-called snapback of all UN sanctions on Iran.

"This is ridiculous," Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told reporters. "They are not members, they have no right to trigger."

Diplomats say the US would face a messy battle if it tries to trigger a return of sanctions, which includes an arms embargo on Iran. It was not immediately clear how or if a Security Council member could stop such a move.

Nebenzia said the US should consider whether it would be worth it.

"Snapback will definitely be the end of the JCPOA... The most intrusive inspections of a country by the IAEA(International Atomic Energy Agency) will cease," he warned. "Is it in the US' interests that it happens?"

The US has raised with the European parties to the deal the possibility of restoring sanctions if it is unable to get the 15-member Security Council to stop an arms embargo on Iran from expiring in October.

A resolution to do so needs nine yes votes and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, France or Britain.

Asked if Russia would veto such a resolution, Nebenzia said: "I never answer questions before the right time comes, but you may make a wild guess... I do not see any reason why an arms embargo should be imposed on Iran."

Agencies Via Xinhua