Washington accused Beijing, London and Paris on Friday August 21 of " failing in their duty " by opposing a procedure initiated by the United States to restore international sanctions against Iran.
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“ We don't need anyone's permission to start the 'snapback', ” Brian Hook, the US envoy for Iran, told reporters. “ Iran is violating its nuclear commitments. The conditions to launch the '' snapback '' are there, ”he insisted. The United States formally activated Thursday at the UN this so-called " snapback " mechanism as a " participant " in the nuclear agreement - concluded in 2015 between Iran and the international community - to demand the reinstatement of sanctions international organizations against Tehran, accused of having violated this pact. But they immediately encountered a categorical refusal from their European allies and the other great powers.
" Disappointing breach of their duty "
Brian Hook said that other members of the UN Security Council had " failed " a week ago by not extending the embargo on the sale of arms to Iran, which is soon to expire, as requested by the Gulf Cooperation Council. " China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom have decided to ignore the point of view of the Gulf Cooperation Council ", which brings together " the countries closest to danger ", he said.
The Security Council " had a responsibility to respect their point of view to extend the arms embargo ", he ruled. " It was a disappointing breach of their duty ." For Brian Hook, whatever the position of the other countries of the Security Council, the mechanism cannot be blocked. " The Security Council, at the end of the 30 days, will restore all UN sanctions ," he said. " Whether people support or oppose what we are doing is not important ."
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned him that Washington would not allow arms to be supplied to Iran after the embargo expired on October 18. " I assure you that the United States will use all the means at its disposal to make sure that the Chinese and the Russians are unable to deliver weapons which threaten us to Iran, " he told Fox News.