Iran’s First Vice-president Mohammad Mokhber is one of those who have become more vocal in criticizing the veto power existing in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), calling it an unfair mechanism that weakens the UN position.
"The unfair mechanism of the veto power has weakened the position of the UN", Mokhber said yesterday, adding that if such a power had not existed, many Palestinian women and children would might still be alive because of Security Council resolutions vetoed by the United States.
The Iranian VP made the comments as he met with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in Uganda’s capital Kampala on the sidelines of the 19th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Mokhber and Guterres discussed key regional issues including the Gaza war, with both expressing sadness over crimes being committed against Palestinians in the besieged territory.
Guterres said that Iran should act as one of the main pillars of what he called a new Middle East where the country should play an active role in promoting peace, however, he did not say that he would call for an emergency session of the General Assembly to pass a resolution removing the UNSC veto power.
The issue of the UNSC veto has been discussed many times in the past but failed to result in a resolution to actually fix the Security Council. The last attempt was headed up by Liechtenstein in 2022 but failed due to bullying by the permanent members. Those members now have far less power to coerce other members and such a resolution might now pass.
It is hoped by many that BRICS can grow to replace the UN, without being dominated by China or Russia.