MOSCOW, Sept 20, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – The Russian foreign ministry on Sunday
condemned the unilateral declaration by the United States that UN sanctions on Iran are back in force as “illegitimate” and “unacceptable”.
“The illegitimate initiatives and actions of the United States by
definition cannot have international legal consequences for other countries,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Russia, a key ally of Iran, accused Washington of putting on a “theatrical
performance” and insisted that the US statements “do not correspond to
reality.”
It accused the US of “trying to force everyone to wear virtual reality
goggles” and accept its version of events, adding: “The world is not an
American computer game.”
Washington’s defiance has dealt a “serious blow to the authority of the UN
Security Council” and showed “open contempt for its decisions and for
international law as a whole,” the ministry said.
“This is unacceptable, and not only for us, but for other members of the
Security Council too.”
Russia said it “fully supports” the position of the majority of Security
Council members that the US moves are “legally and procedurally null and
void.”
Russia said that efforts to ensure the fulfilment of the 2015 nuclear
accord would be continued.
“The US should not exacerbate the situation but immediately renounce its
course to destroy the JCPOA (2015 nuclear deal),” Moscow said.
The United States unilaterally proclaimed on Saturday that UN sanctions against Iran are back in force and promised to punish those who violate them, in a move that risks increasing Washington’s isolation but also international tensions.
“Today, the United States welcomes the return of virtually all
previously terminated UN sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran,”
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement in WASHINGTON.
According to him, the measures were “back in effect” from 8 pm
Washington time (0000 GMT Sunday).
The government of US President Donald Trump also promised to
“impose consequences” on any UN member state which does not comply
with the sanctions, even though it is one of the only countries in the
world which believes they are in force.
The threat is formidable: those deemed to be in defiance by
Washington will be denied access to the US financial system and
markets.
“If UN member states fail to fulfill their obligations to implement
these sanctions, the United States is prepared to use our domestic
authorities to impose consequences for those failures and ensure that
Iran does not reap the benefits of UN-prohibited activity,” Pompeo
stated.
He promised that measures would be announced in coming days against
“violators.”
However Washington is almost alone on the issue: all the other
great powers — China, Russia and also the US’ own European allies —
have challenged the claim. — NNN-AGENCIES
