Russia and China veto US proposal for UN experts to keep monitoring sanctions on Iran

Russia and China vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Thursday that would have extended the mandate for an independent panel of experts tasked with monitoring international sanctions on Iran. The proposal, introduced by the United States, sought to maintain oversight of measures reimposed following the collapse of the nuclear deal with world powers.

In exercising their vetoes, Russia and China asserted that all United Nations measures against Tehran were effectively lifted under the terms of the original nuclear agreement. Pakistan abstained from the vote, while the expiration of the mandate effectively terminates the independent monitoring mechanism previously in place.