The United Nations Security Council failed to pass a draft resolution aimed at continuing to lift sanctions on Iran on September 19, in the event of nine votes against by the United States, Britain, France, and France. Britain, France, Germany and other countries simultaneously attempted to launch the mechanism for the "rapid restoration of sanctions" against Iran.

This is the exterior view of the United Nations headquarters in new york (photo taken on September 18th). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Rui

Britain calls for "rapid resumption of sanctions"

The draft resolution was submitted by the rotating chairman of the Security Council, South Korea, in September, but failed to reach the nine votes needed to pass the resolution.China, Russia, Pakistan, Algeria voted in favour, the United States, Britain, France and other nine countries voted against, South Korea and Guyana abstained.

If adopted, the draft resolution will continue to lift UN sanctions on Iran in accordance with the 2015 Comprehensive Iran Nuclear Agreement and the relevant provisions of Security Council Resolution 2231, which approved the agreement.

On June 20 in Geneva, Germany¡¯s Foreign Minister Vadoufour (mid-right), British Foreign Minister Rami (mid-left), French Foreign Minister Barroso (mid-left) met with the media (mobile photo). Iran and the Foreign Ministers of the British Federation ended a meeting lasting about 3 hours in Geneva, Switzerland, about 19 a.m. on 20 June. It was the first time since the military conflict between Israel and Iran that Iran had a face-to-face consultation with senior Western officials.

The United Kingdom, France, and Germany notified the UN Security Council on August 28 that they had launched a ¡°rapid resumption of sanctions¡± mechanism based on Iran¡¯s violation of the agreement, according to the mechanism, if the Security Council failed to continue to lift sanctions against Iran within 30 days, the relevant sanctions against Iran would be resumed.

However, the legality of the "quick restoration of sanctions" mechanism initiated by Britain, France and Germany is doubtful, because according to the Iranian nuclear deal and Security Council Resolution 2231, the "disagreement resolution mechanism" is required before the "quick restoration of sanctions" mechanism is started, while the three countries bypass the "disagreement resolution mechanism" in an attempt to directly start the "quick restoration of sanctions" mechanism.

Next, Iran will hold diplomatic consultations with the three British and German countries and relevant countries for about a week to avoid the resumption of sanctions against Iraq.

Iran: Illegal, unreasonable and provocative

Iran's Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Thursday night, condemning Britain, France and Germany's attempt on the same day to force a UN Security Council resolution to restore sanctions on Iran, saying Iran is determined to continue its peaceful nuclear program, while retaining 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.

On June 20th, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghzi (middle) spoke at the UN meeting. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lian Yi

Iran has repeatedly expressed its opposition to the "rapid restoration of sanctions" mechanism launched by Britain, France and Germany. On the evening of 17th, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghzi held a telephone conversation with British, French and German foreign ministers and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kallas, calling on the European side to continue to seek a "fair and balanced" solution to the Iranian nuclear issue through diplomatic channels.

According to a statement issued by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Al-Araqi reiterated Iran¡¯s commitment to seeking a solution through diplomatic routes and criticized the European side¡¯s approach to triggering the ¡°rapid reinstatement of sanctions¡± mechanism ¡°without a legal and logical basis.¡±

China: creating tensions and divisions

In an explanatory speech after the Security Council voted to repeal the draft resolution on sanctions against Iraq, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Fujin, stressed that China is resolutely opposed to the relevant countries' push to launch the Security Council's "rapid reinstatement of sanctions" mechanism, believing that such a practice would seriously undermine efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue through political diplomacy.

On June 24th, at the United Nations headquarters in new york, Fu Cong (front middle), China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, spoke at the public meeting of the Security Council on the Iranian nuclear issue. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xie E

Fu Cong pointed out that the root cause of the current dilemma of the Iranian nuclear issue is that the United States unilaterally withdrew from the Iranian nuclear deal in 2018, and resumed and continuously escalated unilateral sanctions against Iran, which made Iran unable to enjoy the economic dividends granted by the agreement and was forced to reduce its obligations under the agreement. The United States also ignored its own credibility and brazenly launched a military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, undermining the negotiation process initiated by itself. Under such circumstances, it is unfair and unreasonable for Britain, France and Germany to insist on activating the "quick restoration of sanctions" mechanism and unilaterally punish Iraq. This move creates tension and division in the Security Council, does not help all parties to rebuild mutual trust and bridge differences, and is not conducive to promoting diplomatic efforts to achieve an early resumption of talks. It may even lead to unpredictable disastrous consequences and destroy years of diplomatic efforts. China is seriously concerned about this.

The Chinese side has always argued that political diplomacy to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue is the only effective and feasible option and the right path to achieving lasting peace. This is also the common view of the international community. In the current situation, China calls on all parties to remain calm and restrained, solve the issue through diplomacy and dialogue, and avoid returning to the interchangeable vicious cycle of sanctions pressure and escalation of the situation.