UN Security Council endorses nuclear deal

Sanctions relief will be implemented when the IAEA verifies Iran has taken measures outlined in the agreement

Resolution states UN arms embargo to stay in place for five years

UNITED NATIONS // The UN Security Council has unanimously endorsed the nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, clearing a path yesterday for international sanctions to be lifted. The measure also provides a mechanism for United Nations ( UN) sanctions to “snap back” in place , reimpos ing UN penalties during the next decade if Tehran breaches the agreement. The 15-member body unanimously adopted a resolution that was negotiated as part of the agreement reached in Vienna last week between Iran and world powers.

In return for lifting sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union (EU) and UN, Iran will be subjected to longterm curbs on its nuclear programme. The West suspected it was aimed at creating a nuclear weapon, but Tehran said it was peaceful.

Passage of the resolution triggers a set of coordinated steps agreed by Iran during nearly two years of talks with the US, Russia, China, Britain, France, Germany and the EU.

It says that no sanctions relief will be implemented until the International Atomic Energy Agency submits a report to the Security Council verifying that Iran has taken measures outlined in the agreement.

The major powers do not need to take any action for 90 days. Then they need to begin preparations so they are able to lift sanctions when the IAEA report is submitted. The EU yesterday approved the Iran nuclear deal with world powers. US president Barack Obama’s administration has sent the nuclear agreement to Congress, which has 60 days to review it.

Once sanctions relief can be implemented, seven previous UN resolutions passed since 2006 will be gradually terminated and the measures contained in the resolution adopted yesterday will come into effect.

The resolution leaves in place an arms embargo on conventional weapons for five years.

It allows for eventual supply of heavy weapons, such as tanks and attack helicopters, to Iran with Security Council approval, but the US has pledged to veto such requests. Restrictions on ballistic missile technology are in place for eight years.

It places restrictions on the transfer to Iran of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes for a decade and allows all UN sanctions to be reimposed if Iran breaches the deal within 10 years. If the council receives a complaint of a breach it would vote within 30 days on a resolution to extend sanctions relief.

If the council fails to vote on a resolution, the sanctions would be automatically reimposed. This procedure prevents any of the veto powers who negotiated the accord, such as Russia and China, from blocking any snapback of Iran sanctions.

All the provisions and measures of the UN resolution would terminate in a decade if the nuclear deal is adhered to. The six world powers and the EU wrote to UN secretary-general Ban Kimoon last week to inform him that after 10 years, they plan to seek a five-year extension of the mechanism allowing sanctions to be reimposed.

Separately, Germany and Iran will soon hold their first economic conference in a decade. But the top German official in a delegation visiting Tehran warned Iran that threatening Israel and not respecting human rights could damage these nascent economic efforts.