US attempts to unilaterally restores all UN sanctions on Iran, a move opposed by other powers
By Li Zhiwei
People's Daily app
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Washington (People's Daily) – US State Secretary Michael Pompeo confirmed on Saturday that US is restoring all previously terminated UN sanctions on Iran. Analysts believe that the US move is intended to extend the arms embargo on Iran. This unilateral action by the US is a huge threat to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

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File photo: Agencies

Pompeo said in a statement that on August 20, the US notified the president of the Security Council of Iran’s significant non-performance of its JCPOA commitments. “This notification triggered the 30-day process leading to the snapback of previously terminated UN sanctions, which became effective at 8 pm Eastern Daylight Time on September 19,” said Pompeo.

Pompeo said the Security Council’s inaction paves the way for Iran to buy all manner of conventional weapons on October 18. “In the coming days, the United States will announce a range of additional measures to strengthen implementation of UN sanctions and hold violators accountable. Our maximum pressure campaign on the Iranian regime will continue until Iran reaches a comprehensive agreement with us,” said Pompeo.

However, unilateral action by the US is opposed by most members of the Security Council. Thirteen of the 15 UN Security Council members, including long-time US allies, say Washington's move is void, and diplomats say few countries are likely to reimpose the measures, which were lifted under a 2015 deal between world powers and Iran that aimed to stop Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. 

The embargo is due to expire on October 18, as agreed under the JCPOA nuclear deal amongst Iran, Russia, China, Germany, Britain, France and the United States that seeks to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons in return for sanctions relief. It is enshrined in a 2015 Security Council resolution.

This resolution has a provision for the return of UN sanctions, a so-called snapback mechanism. However, in 2018, Trump quit the accord, calling it “the worst deal ever.” Security Council members say Washington cannot invoke the snapback provision since it is no longer a party to the deal.

The UK, France and Germany opposed the September 20 deadline set by the US to reimpose sanctions on Iran. They said any decision to reimpose the measures would not be legal. In a letter to the UN Security Council on Friday, the European countries said that any decision to reimpose UN sanctions would be "incapable of legal effect." 

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said in August that the US plan to re-impose UN sanctions on Iran is “absurd” with no legal or political justification.