Russia opposes any new US attempts at UN to punish Iran

Russia's UN ambassador said Tuesday that Moscow will oppose any attempts by the United States to extend the arms embargo on Iran and reimpose UN sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Vassily Nebenzia's comments at a video news conference made clear that the Trump administration will have a tough time advancing any measures to impose further punishment on Iran in the UN Security Council, where Russia has veto power.

The United States circulated a draft UN resolution that would indefinitely extend the UN arms embargo on Iran, which expires in October, to a small number of council members in late April.

It would strike the expiration of the arms embargo from the council resolution that endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal between six major powers the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany and Iran, according to Trump administration officials and UN diplomats.

Russia has made no secret of its desire to resume conventional weapons sales to Tehran.

Nebenzia said the arms embargo is a byproduct of the nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, and was temporary.

It expires in October. ... And for us that's clear, that's clear, he said. I do not see any reason why an arms embargo should be imposed on Iran.

Nebenzia was also asked about the controversial matter of the Trump administration possibly seeking to use the snapback provision in the 2015 Security Council resolution endorsing the nuclear deal, which would restore all UN sanctions against Iran that had been lifted or eased under the terms of the agreement.

The Russian ambassador stressed that to trigger a snapback you have to be a participant of the JCPOA, and the US proudly announced on May 8, 2018 that they withdrew from the JCPOA and closed the door behind.

Now, they knock on the door and say, 'Now just wait a second we forgot to do one little thing on the JCPOA, but let us back, we'll do it and we'll leave again,' he said.

Nebenzia called the possibility the US invoking snapback ridiculous, stressing that for me it's unequivocal. They are not members, they have no right to use any instruments provided by the JCPOA.

He also asked the Trump administration what it would gain from triggering snapback because snapback will definitely be the end of the JCPOA."