Russia and China have blocked a United Nations Security Council resolution intended to extend the mandate of UN experts overseeing sanctions on Iran, aimed at curbing its nuclear activities. The resolution, which was proposed by the United States, received 11 votes in favor, while Russia and China exercised their veto power. Somalia and Pakistan abstained from the vote.
Despite the veto, existing UN sanctions on Iran remain in effect. These sanctions, reinstated through the “snapback” mechanism of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, target Iranian assets, arms-related activities, and the country’s ballistic missile program. The snapback mechanism was activated in September 2025, restoring the Security Council’s sanctions framework and setting up expert monitoring for compliance.
The United States emphasized the need for independent monitoring to track potential violations and evasions of the sanctions. However, Russia challenged the legitimacy of the snapback mechanism, arguing that it was unlawfully used and hence rendered any extension of the expert panel’s mandate without legal standing. China shared Russia’s opposition to the proposed resolution.
This development occurs amid ongoing international concern regarding Iran’s nuclear program. The inability of UN nuclear inspectors to fully verify Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, following attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities in 2025, has heightened these concerns.
With the expert panel no longer authorized to continue its work, questions linger about the future monitoring and reporting of Iran’s compliance with the sanctions to the Security Council.