UN endorses Iran nuclear deal

The UN Security Council voted unanimously on Monday to endorse a deal that monitors Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

And in doing so the international nuclear non-proliferation regime is "safeguarded", said Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN.

"Iran's relationship with all sides has also turned a new page. The conclusion of the comprehensive agreement has given us a revelation of far-reaching significance about contemporary international relations," Liu said after the vote.

The UN vote on the resolution was based on the deal reached last week between Iran and six world powers - the US, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany.

China's ambassador to the UN said that the agreement is a way by which the US and Iran could reach a "win-win", however difficult the process is, and "despite ups and downs", reach a political solution that is "always the only practical and viable pathway".

Under the deal, Iran would curb its nuclear program for a decade, getting rid of 98 percent of its stockpile of rich uranium, an amount that originally could have helped produce 10 nuclear weapons to just a fraction of a nuclear weapon.

The deal would also quadruple the amount of time it would take Iran to produce one nuclear weapon, going from two to three months to a year. In return, the US, European Union, and the UN will lift sanctions placed against Iran.

The UN resolution does not go into effect for 90 days so that countries who signed the accord can review it.

The resolution authorizes measures leading to the end of UN sanctions and provides a mechanism for the sanctions to return if Iran fails to meet its obligations.

After the endorsement, "All sides should effectively fulfill the commitment that they have respectively made and seriously and effectively implement all the provisions of the agreement," said Liu.

He said that China has worked constructively for the fruitful negotiations of the Iranian nuclear issue and will continue to make new contributions to the implementations of the agreement in a responsible manner.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said last week after a deal was reached that the agreement begins a new era of Iran's relationship with other parties involved in the accord, and that the talks were successful because negotiators all adhered to the principle of seeking a political solution.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said after the resolution was adopted that he welcomes the measure. "The United Nations stands ready to provide whatever assistance is required in giving effect to the resolution," he said in a statement.

Meanwhile in Washington, US President Barack Obama submitted the Iran nuclear deal to Congress on Monday for review. Congress has 60 days to review the deal and then vote for or against it or take no action. Obama has said that he will veto attempts to block the deal.

amyhe@chinadailyusa.com