• National

    Tehran Vows to Continue Middle East Policies

    Iran’s deputy foreign minister says the failed UN resolution seeking to pressure Iran over Yemen was another sign of the Americans’ isolation on the international stage and the might of the Islamic Republic
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    Iran pledged to continue its regional policies on Tuesday, a day after Russia vetoed a western bid for the United Nations Security Council to call out Tehran for its alleged role in arming Yemen's Houthi group. 

    "We will continue our policies in the region in a way that would serve the country's interests," Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said, criticizing Washington for its attempts to step up pressure on Tehran, IRNA reported. 

    The US administration has been lobbying for months for Iran to be held accountable at the UN over Yemen. It has presented on several occasions pieces of what it claimed were Iranian weapons supplied to the Houthis, describing it as conclusive evidence that Tehran was violating UN resolutions. Iran has denied the allegations.   

    The initial draft text of the resolution, which was put to a vote at the 15-member council on Monday, aimed to renew the annual mandate of a targeted sanctions regime related to Yemen. 

    It also wanted to include a condemnation of Iran for allegedly violating an arms embargo on Houthi leaders and include a council commitment to take action over it, according to Reuters.  

    ***Watered-Down Draft 

    In a bid to win Moscow's support, the draft that was vetoed had been weakened to simply "note with particular concern" the alleged violation, which was reported to the council by UN experts monitoring sanctions. 

    It received 11 votes in favor, two against—Russia and Bolivia—while China and Kazakhstan abstained.

    Russia has questioned the findings of the UN experts' report, which was submitted to the council in January.  

    A council resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, the US, France or Britain to pass. Following the failed vote on the British draft, the council adopted a rival Russian draft that did not mention Iran and simply renewed the UN sanctions regime on Yemen for a year. 

    The failed UN resolution had been drafted by Britain in consultation with the US and France.

    ***US Defeat 

    Speaking to reporters in Tehran, Araqchi said the blocking of the resolution was another defeat for Washington and its policies. 

    "Over the past year, the US government has attempted several times to make a case against Iran in the Security Council but has failed each time, and this was another sign of the Americans' isolation on the international stage and the might of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the top diplomat noted.  

    He was referring to Washington's attempts to marshal an international response to Iran over various issues as the country's missile program, domestic protests, and the war in Yemen. 

    Araqchi described the accusations against Iran over the situation in the Arab country as "biased" and "one-sided". 

    ***Political Agenda 

    After the Security Council voted, Iran's mission to the UN accused the United States and Britain of misusing the council "to advance their political agenda and put the blame of all that happens in Yemen on Iran." 

    Iran's ambassador to the world body, Gholamali Khoshroo, condemned the failed resolution, noting that western powers are seeking to cover up Saudi Arabia's crimes in Yemen by leveling accusations against Iran, Tasnim News Agency reported. 

    Since March 2015, Saudi Arabia has been leading a coalition of nine countries in airstrikes against the Houthis.

    US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley threatened unilateral action against Iran following the Russian veto. 

    "If Russia is going to continue to cover for Iran, then the US and our partners need to take action on our own. If we're not going to get action on the council, then we have to take our own actions," she said, without specifying what kind of action could be taken, Reuters reported.