New York (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The UN Security Council has unanimously endorsed the nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers agreed last week. The resolution, co-sponsored by all 15 members, authorises the lifting of sanctions in return for Iran curbing sensitive nuclear activities. But it also provides a mechanism for UN sanctions to "snap back" if Iran fails to comply with its obligations.
No further action is required for 90 days, to give the US Congress time to consider whether to give its approval. President Barack Obama said he hoped the resolution would "send a clear message" to critics that the "overwhelming number of countries" recognised diplomacy was "by far our strongest approach to ensuring that Iran does not get a nuclear weapon”.
Iran insists that its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful.
On Monday, the Security Council formally endorsed the long-term nuclear accord negotiated by its five permanent members - US, UK, France, China and Russia - plus Germany, the so-called P5+1.
Iran's envoy, Gholamali Khoshroo, promised it would be "resolute in fulfilling its obligations" and rejected the US accusations as baseless and ironic. Iran's foreign minister meanwhile criticised the US for not withdrawing the threat of military action against his country as a result of the nuclear accord. "Applying force... is not an option but an unwise and dangerous temptation," Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted as saying by the official Irna news agency.
His warning comes a day after US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said during a visit to Israel that "one of the reasons why this deal is a good one is that it does nothing to prevent the military option”.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the deal an "historic mistake" that cleared the way for Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.