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Russia vetoes U.N. resolution citing Iran sanctions violation

Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia, left, speaks to Syrian Ambassador to the United Nations Bashar al-Ja'afari in the Security Council chambers after a vote on a resolution demanding a 30-day cease-fire across Syria to deliver humanitarian aid to millions and evacuate the critically ill and wounded was postponed, Friday, Feb. 23, 2018 at United Nations headquarters. (Mary Altaffer / AP)
By Edith M. Lederer Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS – Russia has vetoed a British-drafted U.N. resolution that promised action against violations of a U.N. arms embargo on Yemen and pointed to a report by experts that cited Iran as a violator.

Monday’s vote was 11-2 with two abstentions on the draft that would also extend sanctions against Yemen and the mandate of the expert panel monitoring them.

Russia then put forward a resolution to extend sanctions and the experts’ work that made no mention of Iran or the panel’s findings. It was adopted unanimously.

Britain’s deputy U.N. ambassador Jonathan Allen had urged adoption of the resolution saying council members should “shy away from calling out those who violate” sanctions.

But Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow could not accept “uncorroborated conclusions” by the panel. He said the British draft would be “dangerous” and “escalate regional tensions.”