Secretary-General said the UN will not support US push to restore sanctions against Tehran without the approval of the Security Council, where overwhelming majority of member states oppose Washington’s efforts despite threats.

Antonio Guterres wrote in a letter cited by The Associated Press that “there would appear to be uncertainty” regarding US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s Saturday announcement of restoration of “virtually all” UN sanctions against Iran.

Washington claims that it triggered the “snapback” mechanism in the Security Council resolution concerning the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran, US, Russia, China, France, UK and Germany. However, considering that Washington unilaterally withdrew from the deal under the Trump administration in 2018, overwhelming majority of Security Council member states consider the restoration triggered by the US illegal and are likely to ignore it.

Guterres noted in the letter that “the Security Council has taken no action subsequent to the receipt of the letter of the U.S. secretary of state, neither have any of its members or its president.”

It is not for the secretary-general to proceed as if no such uncertainty exists.

UN chief added that the organization will not take any action “pending clarification by the Security Council” on whether or not sanctions should be reimposed.

Earlier, Pompeo threatened to any nation that refuses to cooperate with the US regarding the restoration of Iran sanctions with “consequences.”