U.N. lawyer pushes again on Russian row over Iran drone inquiry By Reuters

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The chief U.N. lawyer on Wednesday pushed again on a Russian argument that Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres can not report back to the Safety Council on Western accusations that Moscow used Iran-made drones in Ukraine in violation of a 2015 decision.

Russia has argued that there isn’t any mandate for Guterres to ship U.N. specialists to Ukraine to examine the downed drones. Tehran denies supplying the drones to Moscow and Russia has denied its forces used Iranian drones to assault Ukraine.

Guterres studies twice a 12 months to the council – historically in June and December – on the implementation of a 2015 council decision that enshrines the Iran nuclear deal. Any evaluation of the drones in Ukraine could be included in that report.

In getting ready these studies, U.N. specialists have lengthy traveled to examine proof. Way back to 2017 they traveled to examine weapons seized by France and the particles of ballistic missiles fired at Saudi Arabia.

“Absent additional steering by the Safety Council, the Secretary-Common will proceed to arrange these studies within the method that they’ve been ready thus far,” U.N. authorized affairs chief Miguel de Serpa Soares instructed the Safety Council.

Western council members may block any try by Russia to suggest new steering for Guterres.

Russia had requested de Serpa Soares temporary the council on Wednesday, however the transfer appeared to backfire.

Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused the USA, Britain, France and Germany of violating the U.N. Constitution by making an attempt to exert affect over Guterres with written requests that he examine Russia’s use of drones in Ukraine.

“The Secretariat serves solely as a contact level,” instructed the Safety Council. “The Secretary-Common’s report can replicate solely the truth that the letters had been obtained.”

Russia stated final week that it’s going to reassess cooperation with Guterres if he sends specialists to examine the drones. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric has stated U.N. specialists had been at all times prepared to look at and analyze info from U.N. states.

Underneath the 2015 decision, a traditional arms embargo on Iran was in place till October 2020.

However Ukraine and Western powers argue that the decision nonetheless contains restrictions on missiles and associated applied sciences till October 2023 and may embody the export and buy of superior army methods equivalent to drones.

U.S. Deputy U.N. Ambassador Robert Wooden described Russia’s argument that Guterres couldn’t examine as “dumbfounding” and accused Moscow of losing the Safety Council’s time “to deflect consideration from its personal egregious wrongdoing.”