Middle East minister: No consensus to extend arms embargo on Iran
Britain has given up trying to get the UN Security Council to put more restrictions on the Islamic Republic
The UK has given up trying to get the United Nations Security Council to agree to extend a ban on the sale of conventional arms to Iran, after it became clear that Russia and China were the would-be suppliers.
Diplomats from London, Paris and Berlin had sought to gain agreement from world powers to delay the expiration of the UN arms embargo on Iran, due to expire this Sunday, but British ministers admitted defeat in the House of Commons.
Middle East Minister James Cleverly said the UK, France and Germany – the E3 – had sought a compromise but that “there was no consensus to extend the embargo”.
Donald Trump’s White House administration withdrew from a multilateral nuclear deal struck during the Obama era, under which Iran dismantled its atomic infrastructure in return for an easing of sanctions. Trump has since returned and extended sanctions, whilst also seeking to stop all sales of weapons.
Despite the setback, the minister said that the European arms embargo and the UN ballistic missile restrictions placed upon Iran “remain in place”, as does other prohibitions on the distribution of weapons from Iran to militias such as Hezbollah.
Cleverly said the UK, “alongside our E3 partners, remains concerned about the impact of the expiry on the region”, adding: “We remain committed to countering Iranian proliferation to non-state actors.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
