UNSC divided over backing Iran sanctions violations report

The United Nations Security Council has refused to back a report claiming that Iran violated U.N. sanctions when it launched several ballistic missiles last July.

Australia's U.N. Ambassador Gary Quinlan, who heads the committee monitoring sanctions on Iran, said the UNSC also refused to endorse the report's conclusion by a panel of experts that Iran violated sanctions by shipping weapons to Yemeni insurgents in January that were seized by the government.

According to Fox News, Quinlan told the council that a number of members in the council backed the panel's view that the launches violated sanctions.

He added that the members said that all U.N. member states should therefore redouble efforts to implement ballistic missile-related sanctions on Iran, the report said.

Quinlan said that the sanctions committee, which includes all 15 council members, wrote to Iran on April 12 asking for comment within 15 days on the panel's conclusion, it added.

He said that Iran has not replied, and the committee is currently considering additional follow up actions.

According to the report, the UNSC has imposed four rounds of sanctions against Iran because of concerns it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons and after it refused to suspend uranium enrichment.

The panel of experts, appointed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and approved by the council, investigates and reports to the committee on implementation and alleged violations of sanctions against Iran, the report added.