Iran, Russia joining hands in countering US unilateralism: Defense minister

Iran’s defense minister says Iran and Russia have been spearheading a joint effort during past years to counter US unilateralism in the region.

“During recent years, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia have been spearheading a purposeful and joint effort to counter unilateralism and bullying policy of the United States and the administration of [US President Donald] Trump in the region,” Brigadier General Amir Hatami said in a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoygu in Moscow on Sunday.

Hatami lauded Russia's "constructive and positive stances" with regard to developments that have unraveled in the past few months, especially Moscow’s opposition to a recent anti-Iranian resolution drafted by Washington, which aimed to restore UN sanctions on Iran and was unanimously rejected by the United Nations Security Council.

"The realistic reaction shown at the United Nations Security Council and its opposition to the recent anti-Iran resolution on extending an arms embargo against the Islamic Republic once again led to another big defeat for the US and its regional allies, and also proved the world's opposition to any hostile and wrong policy," he said.

The United Nations Security Council on August 14 unanimously rejected a US resolution to extend an arms embargo on Iran that is due to expire in October in line with a landmark nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), that Iran clinched with six world powers in 2015.

UN Security Council rejects US resolution to extend Iran arms embargo

The United Nations Security Council has rejected a US resolution to extend an arms embargo on Iran that is due to expire in October.

The resolution needed support from nine of 15 votes to pass. Eleven members abstained, including France, Germany and Britain, while the US and the Dominican Republic were the only “yes” votes.

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that the recent meeting of the UN Security Council that led to resounding failure of the United States marked a great political achievement and a historical victory for the Iranian nation.

President Rouhani: Recent Security Council meeting, political, historical victory for Iran

Iran’s President Rouhani says the US resounding failure at the recent UN Security Council meeting marked a great victory for Iranians.

“There is no precedent in history of the Security Council when 14 countries opposed [the US views],” Rouhani added.

Read more:

• Zarif: Failure of US-drafted anti-Iran resolution at UNSC proves change in intl. relations
• Failure to extend Iran arms embargo 'not an option,' says US diplomat after UNSC defeat

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian defense chief said opposition of the remaining parties to the JCPOA to Washington's efforts to trigger the so-called snapback mechanism has dealt another blow to the US in the effort to meet its excessive demands.

Hatami expressed confidence that the joint strategy adopted by Tehran and Moscow to solve regional issues, regardless of the US unilateral policies, would promote peace, stability and security in the region.

As part of an illegal underway push, the United States is trying to invoke a “snapback” mechanism in the multilateral nuclear agreement despite its withdrawal in May 2018 in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorses the accord.

The United States' most prominent Western allies have refused to fall into step with its push to snap back the United Nations sanctions against Iran.

The United Kingdom, France, and Germany, all signatories to the JCPOA, say the US does not have the legal right to trigger "snapback" sanctions because it pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal in 2018.

China says US push for Iran sanctions ‘self-serving political manipulation’

Washington ‘is in no position to demand enacting the snap-back mechanism.’

Russia and China, the other two JCPOA parties, have also strongly expressed their opposition to the US request.

Iran's top security official said on Friday that the United States’ attempt to reinstate the United Nations sanctions on Tehran is nothing but a propaganda ploy to save US President Trump ahead of the November presidential election.

US snapback mechanism nothing but propaganda ploy to save Trump: Iran's Shamkhani

Iran

"US knows that it can neither reimpose UN sanctions nor UN arms embargo on #Iran," Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani tweeted.

Iran, Russia have common goals, interests: Shoygu

The Russian defense minister, for his part, said Tehran and Moscow have common goals and interests at regional and international levels.

Shoygu added that the two countries enjoy deep-rooted strategic ties in all fields while developing defense and security cooperation.

He stressed the importance of constant cooperation among countries in the region with the purpose of establishing regional peace and security.

Read more:

• US cannot cross a bridge it burned: Rouhani says of push for 'snapback' sanctions
• 13 out of 15 UNSC members reject US bid to snapback Iran sanctions: Report
• Russia: US push to invoke Iran deal snapback ‘common sense mockery’

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir