UN endorses Iran deal

The UN Security Council yesterday unanimously adopted a resolution that endorses the historic deal on Iran's nuclear program and clears a path for international sanctions crippling its economy to be lifted.

Representatives of all 15 countries on the council voted by raising their hands.

"The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously," announced New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully, who presided over the Security Council for the Iran meeting.

The passing of the resolution marks formal UN endorsement for the hard-won, groundbreaking agreement reached between Iran and the so-called P5+1 group after 18 straight days of talks that capped almost two years of momentous negotiations.

On condition that Iran respects the agreement to the letter, seven UN resolutions passed since 2006 to sanction Iran will be gradually terminated, according to the text.

The agreement with Tehran was reached last Tuesday in Vienna by the UN council's five permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany.

The text launches a progressive and conditional lifting of sanctions, in exchange for guarantees that the Islamic republic will not develop a nuclear bomb.

"When our nations truly unite to confront global crises, our influence grows exponentially," said US ambassador Samantha Power, calling for similar collaboration on other problems such as the suffering in Syria.