US threatens action against Iran after Russia vetoes UN resolution

The US threatened unilateral action against Iran after Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Tehran’s failure to stop its weapons from reaching Houthi rebels in Yemen.

"If Russia is going to continue to cover for Iran then the US and our partners need to take action on our own,” said US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Monday.

“If we’re not going to get action on the council then we have to take our actions.”

Ms Haley did not specify what kind of action could be taken.

Russia on Monday vetoed the resolution that would have expressed concern over Iran’s failure to block supplies of missile to the Houthis and called for “additional measures”.

It marks the second time in recent days that the Russian ambassador has used his position to shield a regional ally in the Middle East.

Iran said on Tuesday that Russia’s veto of the resolution — which was drafted by Britain and strongly supported by the US — represented another setback for America.

"Based on a one-sided report, they intended to pass a resolution that referred to Iran, but they failed," said Iran's deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, according to the official IRNA news agency. -Courtesy The National