Russia, China veto US-backed UN bid to extend monitoring of Iran nuclear program

Russia and China on Thursday vetoed a US-drafted resolution at the United Nations Security Council that sought to extend the mandate of a UN expert panel tasked with monitoring sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear program. The proposal received 11 votes in favour, while Russia and China voted against it and Somalia and Pakistan abstained. The vetoes blocked the resolution despite the majority of council members backing it. The vote has effectively ended the effort to continue the independent expert-monitoring mechanism at a time when divisions over Iran's nuclear activities and the validity of UN sanctions remain deep.