UN Security Council remains divided over reimposition of sanctions on Iran

The UN Security Council remained divided on Thursday over the reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran, as China warned that continued pressure would undermine efforts toward a political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.

Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said the efforts to push for the restoration of sanctions against Iran and Security Council involvement in the Iranian nuclear issue "will not help the parties build trust or bridge differences".

"Under the current circumstances, the Security Council should play a constructive role and foster a positive and enabling atmosphere for dialogue and negotiations," said Sun.

"Certain members should stop using the Security Council to advance their own political agendas and avoid creating new obstacles to the political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue," he added.

The Council has been divided over the snapback since the UK, France and Germany moved last year to restore UN sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal. China and Russia dispute the validity of the move, while Western members maintain that the sanctions have been restored.

France, which holds the rotating Security Council presidency for September, scheduled a briefing on Thursday on the work of the committee overseeing the UN sanctions on Iran.

China and Russia opposed holding the briefing, but the Council adopted the provisional agenda by 11 votes in favor to two against, with two abstentions.

China "regrets the outcome of the vote", said Sun, adding that this agenda item "has already been terminated".

"Such actions will not only deepen divisions within the Security Council, but also seriously impede the process of seeking a political resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue. China expresses grave concern over and strong opposition to such actions," said Sun.

He said China is "concerned and deeply worried about" recent developments over Iran, citing renewed military exchanges, increased US sanctions and stalled negotiations.

The latest escalation included US strikes on Iranian oil tankers after Washington said Iran had launched ballistic missiles at two US Navy warships. On Tuesday, the US Treasury also announced a new round of sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector, including Iranian airlines and companies in several third countries.

The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in June that provided a 60-day window for broader negotiations, but the deadline passed last month.

"The parties concerned should renounce the use or threat of force, resume implementation of the MoU as soon as possible, and bring the Iranian nuclear issue back onto the track of a political and diplomatic solution," said Sun, calling to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue through "political and diplomatic means".

He said efforts should address "both the symptoms and root causes" of the problem, with a focus on resolving "the source of the problem", calling on the US to refrain from using force again, and to "engage in sincere negotiations with Iran, and ensure the effective implementation of any future agreement".

The Iranian nuclear issue must be "handled without double standards and with full respect for the legitimate rights and interests of the parties concerned," he said.

"China supports the United States and Iran in properly resolving their differences through rational and pragmatic negotiations, ensuring that Iran conducts peaceful nuclear activities in an orderly manner under rigorous International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and verification, and preventing any risk of nuclear proliferation," said Sun.