UNITED NATIONS: In an unexpected development, the UN Security Council’s action plan for March, prepared under the US presidency, failed to be adopted due to objections from Russia and China on issues related to Iran, highlighting the growing polarization within the UN Security Council.
Upon assuming the monthly presidency of the United Nations Security Council, each Member State is required to submit a work plan outlining the Council’s activities, meetings, and agenda for that month. This plan is crucial for the smooth functioning of the Council and for organizing discussions on issues related to international peace and security.
Russia and China objected to the draft action plan proposed by the US, which specifically mentioned a briefing related to the 1737 Sanctions Committee. Russia explained that this objection was raised because the proposed action plan included a briefing on that committee, which they believed had been reactivated due to the reimposition of anti-Iran UN sanctions under the “snapback” mechanism in September 2025. Russia had also urged the US in February not to include such an event in the action plan, but its request was ignored, resulting in its objection to the adoption of the action plan in March.
The UN Security Council adopted a resolution concerning Iran’s nuclear program in 2015, which implemented the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). In August 2020, the US invoked this resolution’s “snapback” mechanism, under which the Security Council can reimpose UN sanctions. Last year, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom (collectively known as the “E3”) also used this mechanism, resulting in the reimposition of sanctions on September 27, 2025, based on Iran’s “significant non-performance.”
Following the failure to adopt the action plan, the United States released its own “Action Plan,” which outlines the Council’s expected meetings and events for the month. Furthermore, a press conference scheduled to be held by US Ambassador Mike Waltz to brief the media on the action plan was also canceled.
Despite the disruption to the action plan, the US has planned two major events during its presidency. The first event was a briefing on “Children, Technology, and Education in Conflict” on March 2, chaired by First Lady Melania Trump, a historic event as it marked the first time a world leader’s spouse chaired a UN Security Council meeting. The second major event is expected to be a briefing on “Energy, Critical Minerals, and Security.”
The incident comes after the US and Israel launched military strikes against Iran, killing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior leaders. Tehran has responded by launching retaliatory attacks on US and Israeli targets in West Asia, plunging the region into a devastating war affecting millions of civilians.
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