Britain, backed by France and the US, intensified on Tuesday efforts to renew UN sanctions on Yemen for another year by calling on Security Council member states to vote on a drafted resolution condemning Iran for violating an arms embargo on Yemen through the sale or transfer of short-range ballistic missiles, drones and other military equipment to the Houthis.
Informed diplomatic sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the first round of consultations held at the offices of the British mission in New York revealed an “objection” from Russia on the text.
Sources said Washington was currently exerting pressure on Moscow not to use its “veto” against the draft resolution when the Security Council is expected to vote on the draft later this month. But, it remains unclear whether Russia would answer the US calls.
The draft resolution would renew sanctions on Yemen for a year, until February 2019, and would enable the Security Council to impose targeted sanctions for any activity linked to the use of ballistic missiles in the country.
Drafted by the UK, the text "condemns" Iran for violating the 2015 arms embargo on Yemen by "failing to take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer" of short-range ballistic missiles, drones and other military equipment to the Houthis.
The resolution also expresses the Security Council’s concerns that Iranian-made arms have entered Yemen.
It came in response to a report prepared by a UN panel of experts, which found that missiles fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels at Saudi Arabia last year were made in Iran.
The proposed resolution also stipulates that "violations ... require a further response from the council; and further decides to take additional measures to address these violations".
The draft UN resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, France or Britain to pass.
