Russia, China veto UN resolution to monitor Iran sanctions

Russia and China have vetoed a United Nations resolution that sought to extend the monitoring of sanctions on Iran.

The resolution that would have authorised UN experts to continue monitoring sanctions reimposed on Iran last year over its nuclear programme was shut down on Thursday, according to the Associated Press.

“We strongly urge Western colleagues to stop their very dangerous actions on the Iran front, which threaten further complication in settling the crisis in the Persian Gulf,” Russia’s UN Ambassador ‌ told the Security Council, Vassily ‌Nebenzia, after the vote.

UN sanctions were officially reimposed against Iran in September 2025 when France, Germany and the United Kingdom triggered the “snapback” mechanism under UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

It cites six previous UNSC resolutions which had imposed sanctions targeting Iran’s nuclear and military programmes, including nuclear enrichment, ballistic missiles, and arms trade.

Iran was accused of violating the 2015 nuclear pact, which limited Iran’s nuclear activities. But Iran has repeatedly denied the allegation that it is seeking to produce nuclear weapons or that it violated the agreement.

After the sanctions were imposed last year, the UN tried to form an independent panel of experts to monitor and report on Iran’s sanctions violations, including recommending further action.

However, the experts were never appointed because the 15-member Security Council could not reach consensus. On Thursday, 11 of the 15 members voted to extend sanctions monitoring. But Russia and China vetoed the resolution while Pakistan and Somalia abstained.

Meanwhile, the development comes as the Trump administration began its campaign to isolate Tehran from its economic partners as the more than six-month-old war in Iran has hit a stalemate.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported the new round of economic sanctions imposed on Tehran and its partners in August.

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the US would sever economic ties with the countries conducting business with Iran.

Meanwhile, Iran, in a post on X, thanked China and Russia for vetoing the US resolution.

“Iran deeply appreciates Russia and China for their consistent and principled positions and decisive actions today.”

Iran said the two countries “prevented yet another cynical attempt by the United States and its allies to abuse the Security Council for their political purposes.”