Russia vetoes U.N. resolution citing Iran sanctions violation

February 26, 2018

The remains of an Iranian rocket which was fired by Yemen into Saudi Arabia, according to U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley during a press briefing at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Dec. 14, 2017, in Washington.

UNITED NATIONS — Russia has vetoed a British-drafted U.N. resolution that promised action against violations of a U.N. arms embargo on Yemen and pointed to a report by experts that cited Iran as a violator. Monday’s vote was 11-2 with two abstentions on the draft that would also extend sanctions against Yemen and the mandate of the expert panel monitoring them.

Russia then put forward a resolution to extend sanctions and the experts’ work that made no mention of Iran or the panel’s findings. It was adopted unanimously.

Britain’s deputy U.N. ambassador Jonathan Allen had urged adoption of the resolution saying council members should “shy away from calling out those who violate” sanctions.

But Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow could not accept “uncorroborated conclusions” by the panel. He said the British draft would be “dangerous” and “escalate regional tensions.”

The draft referred to the January report by the U.N. panel of experts which said Iran violated the 2015 arms embargo by failing “to take the necessary measures” to prevent the direct or indirect supply of missiles and drones to Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The experts examined missile remnants fired into Saudi Arabia by the Houthis last year and said many “are consistent with those of the Iranian designed and manufactured Qiam-1 missile.”