UN Security Council 10079th Meeting, Dec 23, 2025

This 1:48 hour long meeting should be required viewing by all persons involved or interested in the Iran nuclear conundrum. It is available on the UN website.

The official UN news report summarized the meeting this way: The Security Council’s stance on Iran’s nuclear activities remained divided on the issue, split between those who support the reinstatement of sanctions, and the members who believe the sanctions should be permanently lifted, whilst questioning the legality of the meeting itself.

The headlines of news reports tell a mixed story:

Security Council remains divided over Iran nuclear programme, sanctions stay in place (UN News)

Russia, China reject Iran sanctions at Security Council showdown (Iran International)

US, Iran spar over nuclear talks at UN (Reuters)

Government (plus EU) statements strongly called for “diplomacy and dialogue.” The U.S. representative said President Trump had extended his hand, but responded to the Iran statement with the assertion that no uranium enrichment in Iran is acceptable. Iran responded that it will not be bullied.

The Russian and Chinese condemned what the E3 and the U.S. have done. Algeria and Pakistan expressed their agreement. Only Russia and Iran stressed that the military attacks by Israel and the U.S. were in violation of the UN Charter. Everyone was silent on why Iran is not providing IAEA information on its enriched uranium stockpiles - because of Israeli and U.S. threats to attack again.

On the constructive side, Somalia urged that the Council must remain united, and Algeria called for the UN Legal staff to assess the disagreement over termination of RES/2231 and snapback of UNSC sanctions. Hopefully it is not too much to ask that the UN Secretariat undertakes that, in spite of expected objections by the U.S., France and the UK.

In sum, nothing was resolved. Eldar Mamedov’s prediction that the RES/2231 matter could seriously undermine the effectiveness of the UN Security Council seems to be coming true. DJT will be happy about that.

Comments

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