Washington aims to continue sanctions on Iran's nuclear activities

Washington is not going to let Iran out of sanctions despite the imminent expiration of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) on the Islamic Republic's nuclear activities.

Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson at the US Department of State, said Washington has a number of tools at its disposal to hold Iran’s dangerous development and proliferation of missile-related technologies and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).  

"Obviously, UNSCR 2231 is not the only tool that is at our disposal.  We have our own sanctions authorities. We have export controls. We have bilateral and multilateral engagements," Patel said in a press briefing on October 4, referring to Resolution 2231 adopted by the UN Security Council in 2015.

The Resolution provides for the termination of the provisions of previous Security Council resolutions on the Iranian nuclear issue and establishes specific restrictions that apply to all States without exception. Member States are obligated under Article 25 of the Charter of the United Nations to accept and carry out the Security Council’s decisions.

Patel added that the US has already effectively targeted the networks and individuals that would have been covered under a 2231 UNSCR violation.

"We’ll continue to use our own sanctions authorities to hold the Iranian regime accountable," he concluded.