Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a heads-of-state summit by video linkup involving the permanent five members of UN Security Council, plus Germany and Iran, to head off a crisis stemming from U.S. efforts to maintain the UN arms embargo on Iran come hell or high water. “Debates around the Iranian issue within the UN Security Council are becoming increasingly strained,” Putin said in a statement posted on the Kremlin website. “Tensions are running high. Iran faces groundless accusations. Resolutions are being drafted with a view to dismantling decisions that had been unanimously adopted by the Security Council.” However, “We strongly believe that these problems can be overcome if we treat each other’s positions with due attention and responsibility, while acting respectfully and in a collective spirit.”
“Accordingly, we propose convening an online meeting of the heads of state of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, with the participation of the heads of Germany and Iran, as soon as possible, in order to outline steps that can prevent confrontation or a spike in tensions within the UN Security Council,” Putin said. “It is important to secure collective support for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 that sets forth an international legal framework for the execution of the JCPOA.
