Islamabad: Pakistan’s former Defense Minister has criticized the complicity of Europe and the US in preventing the adoption of the draft resolution on lifting sanctions against Iran permanently and said those supporting sanctions against Iran will regret their actions. Speaking to IRNA on Saturday, Lt. General Khalid Naeem Lodhi expressed concern over the actions of the United States and its allies in the UN Security Council, which, he claims, have no justification and reflect a biased approach towards the Islamic Republic of Iran.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Lodhi indicated that Israel is complicit with the United States in bringing the snapback issue to the UNSC. He highlighted the influence of the Israeli lobby in the United States and its aggressive stance, making it unsurprising that there is support for imposing sanctions on Iran. He further emphasized that those opposing the termination of sanctions on Iran are often under pressure from the United States.

Lodhi noted that contrary to the expectations of Iran’s adversaries, sanctions have bolstered the domestic power and capabilities of the Iranian people and system. He urged the E3 (Germany, Britain, and France) to uphold their dignity and independence from the US. Furthermore, he criticized the West’s biased stance within the UN Security Council.

Despite the opposition, Iran has effectively asserted its position against the Israeli regime and demonstrated that it has achieved self-sufficiency across various sectors, eliminating the need for Western dependence, Lodhi stressed. The United Nations Security Council did not adopt the draft resolution proposed by South Korea, the rotating president of the UNSC, on lifting sanctions against Iran permanently.

The draft resolution, presented by South Korea during its presidency of the UN Security Council in September, was put to a vote on Friday morning local time in New York, in line with Clause 11 of Resolution 2231 (2015). The resolution garnered only four votes in favor out of the 15 votes from the UN Security Council members, with nine countries voting against and two abstentions.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the European attempt to restore UN sanctions under the so-called snapback mechanism as ‘unlawful, unjustified, and provocative’. Nine members opposed the measure, while Russia, China, Pakistan, and Algeria supported it, and two countries abstained. Consequently, the UN sanctions against Iran will be reinstated by September 28 if no agreement is reached.

The reaction followed the UN Security Council’s decision on Friday to vote against a draft resolution that would have permanently lifted sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program.