Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, calls on the Trump administration to use the snapback mechanism in the Iran nuclear deal that would allow the US to force the re-imposition of sanctions on Tehran – according to the UN Security Council not extended for a while -to expire arms embargo.
“The fecklessness of our European allies has left the United States with one option and only one option to prevent an expiration of the arms embargo,” Cruz said in a blistering statement on Monday. “It is time for the United States to finally and irreversibly end what remains of the disastrous deal and the benefits Iran derives from it by invoking the snapback mechanism outlined in the UN resolution. the deal. “
UN SECURITY COUNCIL REJECTS US RESOLUTION TO EXENDEND IRAN ARMS EMBARGO
The UN Security Council on Friday rejected a US resolution to extend an arms embargo on Iran, which expires on October 18 as part of Iran’s nuclear deal. By lifting the embargo, Iran would allow the purchase of fighter jets, attacking helicopters, tanks, submarines and missiles with a maximum range of 300 km. The US has warned that it could result in Iran selling arms to countries such as Venezuela and Syria.
The short resolution, which would have extended the embargo “until the Security Council decides otherwise,” gathered only two votes in the chamber – the US and the Dominican Republic. It takes nine to pass.
Russia and China voted no, but did not veto, while the remaining members of the Council, including Britain, Germany and France, abstained.
Acting British Ambassador Jonathan Allen said in a statement that although the UK was concerned about Iran’s destabilizing behavior in the region, “because it was clear that it would not attract the support of the Council and no representation would provide a basis for reaching consensus “and would therefore not contribute to regional stability.
“Nevertheless, we are ready to work with councilors and [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] participants to find a way forward that could secure the council’s support, ”he said.
The US has not stated in any ambiguous terms that it intends to use other means to extend the arms embargo, and it could do so as soon as next week. UN Ambassador Kelly Craft had said the US “will use all tools in our toolbox.”
US TO WORK ‘IN THE COMING DAYS’ ON IRAN ARMS EMARGO TO UN SECURITY COUNCIL SHIPPING
The UN resolution anchoring the deal includes a “snapback” mechanism by which an individual nation can re-impose sanctions on Iran – including the arms embargo – by lodging a complaint with a Security Council panel. Although the US left the Iran deal, it claims that it still retains rights under the resolution and officials will likely try to use this power.
Diplomats from countries that support the deal, and US opponents have argued that because the United States left the deal in 2018, it can no longer use mechanisms in the Iran deal.
“After withdrawing from the JCPoA, the US is no longer a JCPoA participant and it is therefore inappropriate to ask the Security Council to call for a snapback,” Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun said in a statement. to the mood.
The administration, and Cruz, argued against it, saying the U.S. retained rights under the resolution.
“UNSCR 2231 reserves the right of all original participants in the Iran deal to invoke the snapback mechanism, which explicitly defines it as the United States,” Cruz wrote in an op-ed for Newsweek, referring to the UN resolution. ‘How could it not? The whole point of the snapback was to protect the US as Iran used the deal to endanger Americans. “
“After every other measure was taken in October to stop Iran from receiving billions of dollars in weapons, the Trump administration is returning to the UN to put an end to the benefits Iran receives from the Iran deal. , “he claims. “We can go there tomorrow to start the process, we should do it and very soon we will do that.”
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has convened a meeting of leaders of the five permanent members of the Security Council, along with Germany and Iran, in what the Kremlin has described as an attempt to prevent escalation.
While the US has expressed an openness to talks, officials have indicated that it could call for the snapback mechanism as early as this week.
Fox News’s Ben Evansky and Rich Edson contributed to this report.
