US dispute over Iran 'spreads to Security Council'
US dispute over Iran 'spreads to Security Council'
Analysis: The dispute between US Republicans and the Obama administration over Iran's nuclear weapons has seen the UN Security Council get involved.
3 min read
The US is divided over sanctions against Iran [Getty]
The dispute between US President Barack Obama and the Republicans (GOP) over nuclear negotiations with Iran is escalating. A high-level source in the Republican Party (GOP) has now accused the Obama administration of mobilising the UN Security Council in favour of Iran to settle a US domestic partisan dispute.
The GOP source, told al-Araby al-Jadeed, the UN Security Council's recent involvement in Western negotiations with Iran ahead of a final deal was at the request of Obama and US Secretary of State John Kerry. The GOP source accused Obama of using the international community against his opponents in a domestic political battle in Washington.
The source's remarks come on the heels of news carried by Reuters indicating that the five permanent members of the Security Council have begun consultations over a draft resolution to lift UN sanctions on Iran if a deal over the latter's nuclear programme is agreed. This is seen to be undermining the position of Republicans opposed to the deal.
Al-Araby al-Jadeed asked the source whether the US could veto the resolution in question. The source, who asked not to be named, replied: "I do not believe the US will veto a resolution like this." He added:
"It was Kerry who planned with the White House to take a partisan dispute in Washington to New York. Since the veto decision is in Kerry's hands and not the Senate's, I do not expect this administration to wield it, as it is seeking a deal with a rogue state at the expense of supreme US interests".
Reports over consultations at the UN Security Council regarding lifting the sanctions come amid sharp disputes between the GOP and the Democratic Party over a possible deal with Iran. While the Democratic Obama administration is working hard to secure an agreement, the Republicans are strongly opposed.
The Republicans have threatened to repeal any deal after Obama's term ends in the White House. However, a deal backed by an international resolution would make it difficult for a GOP-dominated Senate to scupper it.
The terms of the deal with Iran have yet to be announced publicly. However, leaked reports indicate the agreement would have Iran suspend "sensitive" nuclear activities for ten years in return for the gradual lifting of sanctions.
Other leaks that cannot be officially verified suggest the Iranian negotiators are insisting the sanctions are lifted in one batch, something that threatens to thwart negotiations and take them back to square one. US negotiators want the sanctions to be gradually lifted, especially those imposed through UN Security Council resolutions. One reason is that they are concerned Russia and China might veto any future sanctions if the proposed deal fails.
If negotiations succeed and the UN Security Council lifts sanctions on Iran, any sanctions imposed unilaterally by the Republicans on Tehran will not have a big impact. This is especially the case if the European Union also decides to lift the sanctions it has imposed on Iran, including on Iran's oil and gas sector.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
The GOP source, told al-Araby al-Jadeed, the UN Security Council's recent involvement in Western negotiations with Iran ahead of a final deal was at the request of Obama and US Secretary of State John Kerry. The GOP source accused Obama of using the international community against his opponents in a domestic political battle in Washington.
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The five permanent members of the Security Council have begun consultations over a draft resolution to lift UN sanctions on Iran. |
The source's remarks come on the heels of news carried by Reuters indicating that the five permanent members of the Security Council have begun consultations over a draft resolution to lift UN sanctions on Iran if a deal over the latter's nuclear programme is agreed. This is seen to be undermining the position of Republicans opposed to the deal.
Al-Araby al-Jadeed asked the source whether the US could veto the resolution in question. The source, who asked not to be named, replied: "I do not believe the US will veto a resolution like this." He added:
"It was Kerry who planned with the White House to take a partisan dispute in Washington to New York. Since the veto decision is in Kerry's hands and not the Senate's, I do not expect this administration to wield it, as it is seeking a deal with a rogue state at the expense of supreme US interests".
Reports over consultations at the UN Security Council regarding lifting the sanctions come amid sharp disputes between the GOP and the Democratic Party over a possible deal with Iran. While the Democratic Obama administration is working hard to secure an agreement, the Republicans are strongly opposed.
The Republicans have threatened to repeal any deal after Obama's term ends in the White House. However, a deal backed by an international resolution would make it difficult for a GOP-dominated Senate to scupper it.
The terms of the deal with Iran have yet to be announced publicly. However, leaked reports indicate the agreement would have Iran suspend "sensitive" nuclear activities for ten years in return for the gradual lifting of sanctions.
Other leaks that cannot be officially verified suggest the Iranian negotiators are insisting the sanctions are lifted in one batch, something that threatens to thwart negotiations and take them back to square one. US negotiators want the sanctions to be gradually lifted, especially those imposed through UN Security Council resolutions. One reason is that they are concerned Russia and China might veto any future sanctions if the proposed deal fails.
If negotiations succeed and the UN Security Council lifts sanctions on Iran, any sanctions imposed unilaterally by the Republicans on Tehran will not have a big impact. This is especially the case if the European Union also decides to lift the sanctions it has imposed on Iran, including on Iran's oil and gas sector.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
