Russia Moves to Block Anti-Iran Move at UN

Russia laid the groundwork for a likely veto of a British, US, and French bid for the United Nations Security Council to call out Iran over its weapons which have allegedly fallen into the hands of Yemen's Houthi group.

The UK-drafted resolution was expected to come up for a vote on Monday as the 15-member Security Council had to renew its targeted sanctions on Yemen on the same day. Russia on Sunday proposed a rival resolution that would simply extend the mandate of the regime for one year and not mention Iran, Reuters reported.

The United States has been lobbying for months for Iran to be held accountable at the United Nations, while at the same time threatening to quit a 2015 deal among world powers to curb Iran's nuclear program if "disastrous flaws" are not fixed.

Britain drafted a resolution in consultation with the United States and France that initially wanted to condemn Iran for allegedly violating an arms embargo on Houthi leaders and include a council commitment to take action over it. The latest British draft drops the condemnation and instead expresses concern that UN experts monitoring the sanctions reported Iran had violated a targeted arms embargo by failing to stop missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles reaching the Houthis.

A Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015, backing government forces fighting Iran-allied Houthi fighters. Iran has denied supplying the Houthis weapons. A UN Security Council resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, France or Britain to pass.

  Provisions

Both resolutions seek to renew a UN ban on the supply of weapons to Houthi leaders and "those acting on their behalf or at their direction." It can also blacklist individuals and entities for threatening the peace and stability of Yemen or hindering aid access.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley took her Security Council colleagues to Washington in January to view pieces of missiles fired by the Houthis at Saudi Arabia in a bid to boost the US case against Iran.

Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said after the visit that he does not believe there is a case for United Nations action against Iran. Iran has described the arms displayed in Washington as "fabricated".