6 Aug

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says his country will put forward a resolution to the Security Council next week to extend the UN arms embargo on Iran.

The UN arms embargo is set to expire in October under the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. The US withdrew from the agreement in 2018.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Pompeo pointed out that Iran continues to illegally transfer arms to conflict-torn Yemen.

He referred to Iran as "the number-one state sponsor of terrorism" and stressed the need to keep the arms embargo in place.

But Russia and China, both permanent members of the Security Council, have signaled that they will oppose an extension of the arms embargo.

Pompeo has suggested that if the US is unsuccessful in extending the embargo, it would invoke a mechanism under the 2015 deal that would restore all UN sanctions against Iran.

NHK