26 September 2018
Trump seeks UN backing for Iran nuclear sanctions
By BBC
US President Donald Trump has urged other members of the UN Security Council to work with America to ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear bomb.
Chairing a council meeting, he said anyone who failed to comply with US sanctions would "face severe consequences".
America is re-imposing sanctions after pulling out of an international deal on Iran's nuclear programme.
Iran hit back by accusing Mr Trump of "abusing" the Security Council.
French President Emanuel Macron, who still backs the 2015 deal, called for a "long-term strategy".
"I agree with the goals of the president of the US even if we disagree over the nuclear deal, but I think we need to build together a long-term strategy and it can't just boil down to sanctions and containment," he told the Security Council session.
Iran denies it is seeking to build nuclear weapons and accuses the Trump administration of "bullying".
The US president is chairing the session on Wednesday because America currently holds the rotating presidency.
What did Trump say exactly?
"I ask all members of the Security Council to work with the United States to ensure the Iranian regime changes its behaviour and never acquires a nuclear bomb," he said.
He also accused Iran and Russia of "enabling" "butchery" by the Syrian government although he thanked all three countries for pulling back from an offensive against rebels in Idlib province.
