China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Fu Cong spoke on the 17th after the Security Council voted on the draft resolution on the extension of the authorization of the Iran Sanctions Committee Expert Group, saying that China opposed the resumption of sanctions on Iran in the Security Council.
Fu Cong said that the current war in the Middle East is protracted and the political settlement process of the Iranian nuclear issue is in a deadlock. The more turbulent the situation becomes, the more the Security Council must demonstrate leadership, act responsibly, and avoid double standards, political manipulation, pressure and confrontation. China voted against the draft resolution based on safeguarding fairness and justice, maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East, and focusing on the overall political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.
He said that Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue, expired on October 18, 2025, and the Security Council has terminated its consideration of the Iranian nuclear issue. Ignoring the above facts, forcing the restoration of sanctions on Iran and proposing an obviously controversial draft resolution in the Security Council will only damage the unity and credibility of the Security Council and create obstacles to diplomatic efforts. China firmly opposes this.
Fu Cong said that the top priority of the international community, including the Security Council, is to encourage the parties concerned to maintain calm and restraint, stop using force or the threat of force, ease tensions, and actively create the necessary conditions for the parties to resume implementation of the ceasefire, return to negotiations, and reach a peace agreement. Military means and sanctions and pressure will not help solve the problem, but will only aggravate tension. Escalating the situation is not in the interest of any party. Equal dialogue and negotiation is the only right way. Any action taken by the Security Council should help the parties to negotiate on an equal basis, find the greatest common denominator that takes into account each other’s legitimate concerns, and reach a solution that meets the expectations of the international community.
The United Nations Security Council failed to pass a resolution on the extension of the authorization of the Iran Sanctions Committee expert panel on the 17th. The voting result of this draft resolution drafted by the United States was: 11 votes in favor, 2 votes against, and 2 abstentions. Russia and China, permanent members of the Security Council, voted against and the draft resolution was vetoed.
