General Assembly debates the Security Council veto cast by China and Russia on an Iran sanctions panel
2 October 2026
The UN General Assembly met on Thursday to examine the Security Council's latest veto, cast by China and Russia against a United States-backed panel of experts on Iran's nuclear facilities.
The veto initiative, established in 2022, requires the General Assembly to meet within 10 working days of any veto cast in the Security Council.
The five permanent members with the veto are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States; a single negative vote by any of them defeats a resolution.
Khalilur Rahman, President of the Assembly's 81st session, said the veto initiative "cannot substitute for effective Security Council action".
Sun Lei, Deputy Permanent Representative of China, said his delegation voted against the draft to uphold "a correct sense of right and wrong".
Hedda Samson, Deputy Head of the European Union delegation, said the need for a panel of experts is "even great today".
The Assembly President will send a summary of the discussion back to the Security Council.
In plain words
Veto Negative vote by a permanent member of the UN Security Council — A single negative vote by China, France, Russia, the UK or the US defeats a draft resolution.
Panel of experts Group of specialists monitoring a UN sanctions regime — Such panels report to the Security Council on how far sanctions are being observed.
JCPOA Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action — The 2015 agreement on Iran's nuclear programme.