Xinhua News Agency, Tehran, September 19 (Reporter Chen Xiaoshadati) The Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the evening of the 19th, condemning Britain, France and Germany for trying to forcibly push the UN Security Council resolution to resume sanctions against Iran on the same day, saying that Iran is determined to continue to promote its peaceful nuclear program while reserving the "right to respond".

The statement said the move was ¡°illegal, unreasonable and provocative and seriously damaged the current diplomatic process¡±, further eroding the credibility of the Security Council and undermining the nuclear non-proliferation mechanism, in the absence of consensus and opposition from several members of the Security Council.

The statement warned that if the relevant Security Council sanctions resolutions were therefore resumed, the United States and the British Federation would bear full responsibility.

Iran reiterated its determination to continue its peaceful nuclear program, while safeguarding its rights and interests through diplomacy and other means, and reserves the right to respond accordingly to ¡°any illegal act¡±.Iran called on all responsible members of the international community to refuse to force the Security Council to restore sanctions on Iraq.

Earlier in the day, the UN Security Council voted on the draft resolution to continue lifting sanctions against Iran. The draft was not adopted because nine countries, including the United States, Britain and France, voted against it. Next, Iran still has about a week to hold diplomatic consultations with Britain, France, Germany and related countries to avoid the resumption of sanctions against Iran. Iravani, Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said that the "door to diplomacy" has not been closed.

The United Kingdom, France, and Germany notified the UN Security Council on August 28 that they had launched a ¡°rapid resumption of sanctions¡± mechanism on the basis of Iran¡¯s violation of the nuclear agreement. According to the mechanism, from now on, if the Security Council fails to continue to lift sanctions against Iran within 30 days, the Security Council will resume six previously adopted resolutions against Iran, including sanctions.

Iran has repeatedly expressed its opposition to the launch of the "rapid reinstatement of sanctions" mechanism and reached an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency on a feasible model for the resumption of verification activities in Iran on September 9.