The UN Security Council held the critical vote on the Iranian nuclear deal between the Islamic Republic and the West on Monday afternoon, at 9:00 am EST (4:00 pm IST) in New York.
Anticipation is high ahead of the vote, after New Zealand announced Friday that the vote would be held “under silence.”
In an “under silence” adoption procedure, instead of the UNSC holding a normalpositive vote, the motion that is set for adoption “under silence” is deemed automatically adopted unless a party specifically objects to the motion.
This “under silence” procedure would put the onus on Israel to be the first, and possibly the only, objector to the UNSC’s adoption of the Iran deal.
The draft resolution, deemed 2231-2015 was adopted unanimously by 15 votes in favor very soon after the meeting began.
“Lessons learned”
US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power spoke praising the deal shortly thereafter, explaining that, in her view, the terms of the deal will significantly delay Iran’s nuclear development to the point of preventing them from developing a nuclear weapon.
The JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) will take effect within 90 days, she said, and sanctions will be lifted only after it is determined that Iran is compliant with the deal.
She added that the deal proves lessons “about enforcing global norms” and “the unity of this council [i.e. the UNSC],” as well as praising the deal for “achieving objectives peacefully” vis-a-vis the Middle East without resorting to war.
Power also said that the US will continue to invest in the security of its regional allies and enact its own sanctions against Iran, over protest over its human rights violations and targeting of the US and Israel. She called on Iran to release American captives.
“Implementation is everything,” Power added, and called on the UN and otherinternational organizations to be strict about ensuring that Iran complies with the deal, explaining that it is critical for world security.
Power concluded by urging the UN to apply similar global measures and “the same political will” to other world conflicts, specifically Syria.
International community praises deal
The French, Spanish, European Union (EU), German, Lithuanian, Chadian, Malaysian, Nigerian, Angolan, Jordanian, Chilean, Venezuelan and Chinese ambassadors to the UN welcomed the resolution as well, with Chinese ambassador Liu Jieyi stressing the importance of “comprehensive implementation” of the deal.
Russia also praised the deal highly; Russian ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin spoke of the ‘”inalienable rights” for the Iranian people to develop a nuclear program, while also maintaining the international community’s approval. Churkin also said that the deal will, hopefully, prevent another Middle East arms race and create a zone in the Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction, in his words.
The United Kingdom (UK)’s ambassador to the UN Matthew Ryecroft went further, praising the deal as a “good deal” which allows Iran to take its “true responsibility” as a Middle Eastern power.
Jordan’s ambassador to the UN, Dina Kawar, noted that the agreement will hopefully “have a positive effect on all states in the regions,” both in terms offoreign policy and in terms of various internal conflicts in the Middle East. She stressed the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in implementing the agreement.
Venezuela’s ambassador to the UN urged the council to apply similar resolutions to enforce solutions to the “Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
Iran takes the floor
Iran’s ambassador to the UN Gholam Ali Khoshrou praised the deal for “providing a way out” of the economic crisis from “unjustifiable” sanctions placed on Iran, which stemmed from “baseless speculations and hearsay.”
He added that there is “no proof” the nuclear program would be used for a weapon and protested that only Japan has had the number of the IAEA inspections surpassing Iran.
“We cannot accept or forget previous treatment of Iran,” he added.
“Iran is both in a position and willing to comply” with the deal, he said, citing a fatwa of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, allegedly declaring nuclear weapons haram, or forbidden under Islamic law.
He accused other members of the international community of “Iranophobia,” particularly Israel, and accused Israel of stockpiling nuclear warheads and providing a “true threat” to the region.
He also threw accusations against the US for destabilizing the Middle East and accused it of unjustly blaming Iran for doing the same.
@ honeybee:
honeybee, could you ask yamit to come back. Tell him that his fan base are waiting and by general demand would like to have him back. If he does not listen, are you not an expert with the lasso?
See if you can use your influence to bring him back. Send the Texas Rangers to keep the women back while you save him from the crowd.
Hope you are feeling well. Slow down, no more falls.
@ bernard ross:
What I find outrageous is that the EU countries feel they have the right to approve or disapprove of the deal Obama has done. They are like a hungry dog waiting for the deal to be approved that they can sell Iran their wares.
Why do they think they have the right to anything? They are not participating by giving a few billions dollars to Iran and they think they have a right?
If the Obama administration is giving $150 billions to get support for these treasonous deal it is up to the US to approve or disapprove of it.
Big business is waiting as you so well described to do what is profitable for them even if it buries the USA.
I agree with you. The Republicans as well as the Democrats are not representing the American people. They should be working together to impeach and put behind bars the criminal at the WH for treason. Under another government he would have been executed for the same reason. What does he have that our politicians who should be representing us are backing him up in whatever he wants. They protest but do nothing to stop him. Sometimes I think that in the best communist style Obama and his thugs are blackmailing everyone of them. Even the WSJ is not being honest.
We are without representation.
@ bernard ross:
Thank you Bernard. You done good [ KoHaVod in Texan], I shall ponder on your comments.
honeybee Said:
I believe he is setting a practical trial balloon precedent for how it is done. it cannot be done by him alone. He has to have the support and collusion of the GOP. American international corps will likely be in support of this as it allows them to manufacture cheaply abroad, avoid US taxation in the supply chain, avoid taxation on the sales through inflated fake production and supply costs, avoid property taxes in local communities because they bring jobs(LOL), partake in future profits from the chinese after they become a consumption economy accomplished by conning western consumers into dropping protective tariffs, etc etc etc. The GOP will likely vote in those corporate interests as demonstrated in their jump on the obama gravy train with the so called free trade deal which only means trade is free to corporations selling to the US. US international corps will likely be for one world gov which allows them freedom from US taxation and oversight.
Obama just did it, and all we see is whining from congress and collecting the pay check whereas he should be impeached, investigated, and tried for criminal acts. its a stealth coup
@ bernard ross:
Since yamit82 is still in the Chinate Mts.,I will ask you. Do you believe the Obama has just given the USA over to World Govt.?
woolymammoth Said:
exactly, in all cases, fact “trumps” rhetoric. 🙂
@ bernard ross: Astute comments by Mr. Ross, not unusual. You are on to something, but one point, they like to bring them in with green cards, rather than illegal. The consensus, private and public sector is that these people are keepers. So the trip over and stipends, job placements are pre-arranged. Often the transplanted know where they wish to go, generally and what they want to do. Promotions come easy and as supervisors they are taught to discriminate against Americans, humiliate them, use them, pit one American against the other,and if possible get em fired. It is all arranged. However, you are correct that some of them over stay their visas or forget about them and have problems, that is when they ask you to marry them, it is worth about 50-75K. No attorney will take your legit case of discrimination, which you can prove, to court. That is unless you are willing to pay them not upon contingency but via retainer and after the first month when you get a bill for thousands and inquire as to what you are being charged for, you may get the following response ,Ross, I think about you, even when I am in the shower. Well let’s see what congress does, in fact.
In other words not only has Obama ignored and bypassed congress he expects congress to ratify the decision of the UN as being binding on the american people. since when did the UN rule the USA? Since when did any president “expect” a subservient congress to bow to the UN or follow their diktat? Its obvious that the useless GOP, who has done nothing to date regarding Obamas unconstitutional actions, will simply end up stepping in line with Obama. I think that perhaps the GOP sold out to Obama in return for the “free trade” act which seeks to export even more jobs, production and capital to the communist, centrally planned, non free market of china. They also support his flooding the US with illegals probably in return for all those cheap labor tech visas they got their corporate donors.
Randy’s got it right. The House of Saud will now have to nuke Iran before Iran can nuke it. In the confusion, other states, including Israel, could get hit with more deadly ramifications. A world at nuclear war and Samantha Power is overjoyed?
It is official. Insanity rules this world. Global destruction is the only fruit this tree can produce.