Donald Trump threatens to ‘SNAP BACK’ sanctions on Iran after US’ huge UN defeat
DONALD Trump has threatened to use a highly-debated power to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran.
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It follows a US defeat at the UN Security Council after nearly every member state declined to vote for an arms embargo on Iran that the US put forward on Friday. The US wanted to extend an existing embargo due to expire this October – but only the Dominican Republic and the US itself voted ‘yes’ on the proposal.
This fell far short of the nine ‘yes’ votes required to get it through. Russia and China voted ‘no’, and every other country including Britain abstained.
Following the news, president Trump said: “We’ll be doing a snapback. You’ll be watching it next week.”
According to analysts, this ‘snapback’ refers to a US claim that it can reimpose UN sanctions on Iran under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
However, other nations have contested this since Mr Trump withdrew the US from the nuclear deal – known officially as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA – in 2018.
Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, told reporters earlier this year the US’ claim that it can reimpose UN sanctions on Iran under the JCPOA as “ridiculous” because “they are not members” of the deal.
The JCPOA is an agreement between Iran and Britain, China, Germany, France, Russia and formerly the US that requires Iran to scale down its nuclear operations in return for an easing of UN, US and EU sanctions.
According to the Guardian, European UN Security Council nations fear extending the ban would prompt Iran to abandon the nuclear deal.
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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reacted angrily to the UN’s rejection of the US’ embargo proposal.
He said in a statement: “The Security Council’s failure to act decisively in defence of international peace and security is inexcusable.
“Last weekend, the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council came together to ask the Security Council to extend the embargo. Israel also asked the Council to do the same to prevent Iran from expanding and modernizing its arsenal.
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“These countries know Iran will spread even greater chaos and destruction if the embargo expires, but the Security Council chose to ignore them.
“The United States will never abandon our friends in the region who expected more from the Security Council.
“We will continue to work to ensure that the theocratic terror regime does not have the freedom to purchase and sell weapons that threaten the heart of Europe, the Middle East and beyond.
Later, Mr Pompeo announced he had travelled to the Dominic Republic – the proposal’s sole supporter in the UN Security Council – to “reaffirm strong ties and shared democratic values”.
This comes as Iranian president Hassan Rouhani said it was a “great success” that “the US was defeated in this conspiracy with humiliation.”
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said the US “has never been so isolated.”
Richard Gowan, UN Director of the International Crisis Group, said the UK’s refusal to back the US’ embargo proposal could impact its post-Brexit US trade deal.
Mr Gowan said: “It appears the UK has chosen to put its security relationship with Paris and Berlin ahead of its desire for a Brexit trade deal with the US.”