Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday condemned the UN Security Council's decision not to renew a UN arms embargo on Iran, saying the decision would encourage Iranian aggression in the Middle East.
The 15-member council on Friday resoundingly defeated a US resolution to indefinitely extend the embargo. Only the Dominican Republican joined the US in supporting the resolution. Russia and China opposed it, while the remaining 11 members abstained.
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In a statement, Netanyahu called the vote "scandalous."
"Iranian terrorism and aggression threaten the peace of the region and the entire world," he said. "Instead of opposing weapons sales, the Security Council is encouraging them." He said Israel would continue to cooperate with the US and act with "full force" against those who threaten it.
The Trump administration has said it will not allow the arms embargo provision in the Security Council resolution endorsing the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and six major powers to expire as scheduled Oct. 18.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has suggested the US would invoke the "snap back" mechanism in the 2015 nuclear deal that would restore all UN sanctions on Iran.
"Snap back" was envisioned in the event Iran was proven to be in violation of the accord, under which it received billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.
The result of the vote in #UNSC on arms embargo against Iran shows—once more—the US' isolation.
Council's message: NO to UNILATERALISM.
US must learn from this debacle. Its attempt to "snapback" sanctions is illegal, and was rejected by int'l community, as was evident today.
— Majid Takht Ravanchi (@TakhtRavanchi) August 14, 2020
President Donald Trump pulled out of the nuclear agreement, known as the JCPOA, in 2018. But the US circulated a six-page memo Thursday from State Department lawyers arguing the United States remains part of the 2015 Security Council resolution that endorsed the deal and still has the right to use the `snap back' provision.
The five other powers – Russia, China, United Kingdom, France and Germany – remain committed to the deal, and diplomats have voiced concern that extending the arms embargo would lead Iran to exit the nuclear agreement and speed up its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
"The Security Council's failure to act decisively in defense of international peace and security is inexcusable," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.
White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien said the refusal of France, Germany and Britain to back the United States in a UN Security Council vote was "disappointing but not surprising."
"We lost today but it's not over yet," O'Brien said in an interview with Fox News.
China's UN Ambassador Zhang Jun said in a statement after the vote that the result "once again shows that unilateralism receives no support and bullying will fail."
Iran lauded the vote.
"In the 75 years of United Nations history, America has never been so isolated," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi tweeted hours after just two of the Council's 15 members backed a US resolution to extend the embargo.
"Despite all the trips, pressure and the hawking, the United States could only mobilize a small country (to vote) with them," he added, in reference to failed efforts by Pompeo to rally support for a US resolution.
"Last night, Iran's active #diplomacy, along with the legal force of (the nuclear deal), defeated the United States again at the Security Council," Mousavi tweeted.
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"In the coming days, the United States will follow through on that promise to stop at nothing to extend the arms embargo," US Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft said in a statement.
Iran's UN Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi warned the United States against trying to trigger a return of sanctions.
"Imposition of any sanctions or restrictions on Iran by the Security Council will be met severely by Iran and our options are not limited. And the United States and any entity which may assist it or acquiesce in its illegal behavior will bear the full responsibility," he said in a statement.
