The United Nations Security Council convened a contentious session on Thursday, exposing profound divisions among member states regarding the reinstatement of sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program. The meeting, presided over by the United States during its March presidency, reignited diplomatic tensions amid escalating Middle East hostilities.
China’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Fu Cong, delivered a stern warning during the mandated meeting of the 1737 Sanctions Committee. He expressed grave concerns that Washington’s decision to convene the session would exacerbate regional tensions and undermine political resolution prospects for the Iranian nuclear dilemma. Ambassador Fu emphasized that the meeting occurred against the backdrop of renewed Middle East conflict and an increasingly complex nuclear situation, potentially intensifying contradictions among involved parties.
The diplomatic confrontation centers on the controversial reactivation of the sanctions committee established in 2006 through Resolution 1737, which was subsequently suspended following the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The current dispute originated when France, Germany, and the United Kingdom triggered the JCPOA’s snapback mechanism in August, attempting to restore UN sanctions after the United States’ 2018 withdrawal from the nuclear agreement.
Ambassador Fu challenged the legal foundation of these actions, stating that Resolution 2231—which governed the JCPOA—expired on October 18, 2025, thereby terminating the Security Council’s formal consideration of Iran’s nuclear program. He supported Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya’s procedural motion and declined to comment on the committee’s work, asserting its legitimate existence had ceased.
The Chinese diplomat called for immediate cessation of military operations by the United States and Israel, particularly against Iranian facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. He attributed the current crisis to America’s unilateral JCPOA withdrawal and subsequent military actions during negotiations with Tehran, which he characterized as violations of international law and UN Charter principles.
Meanwhile, Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani reinforced this position, declaring Resolution 2231 definitively terminated and dismissing snapback mechanism claims as baseless. The humanitarian dimension emerged through UN Refugee Agency reports indicating between 600,000 and one million Iranian households have been internally displaced due to ongoing conflict.
European nations faced criticism for allegedly fueling tensions rather than contributing constructively to de-escalation efforts. Ambassador Fu concluded that the Security Council must not serve as a tool for individual countries’ sanctions or political agendas, urging an end to the body’s politicization.