⁍ The U.N. Security Council is preparing to vote this week on a U.S. proposal to extend an arms embargo on Iran.

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⁍ A last-minute attempt by Britain, France and Germany to broker a compromise appeared unsuccessful so far, diplomats said.

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⁍ Russia and China, allies of Iran, have long-signaled opposition to the U.S. measure.

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– The UN Security Council is expected to vote this week on a US proposal to extend an arms embargo on Iran, a move that some diplomats say is bound to fail and put the fate of a nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers further at risk. The embargo is due to expire in October under a 2015 deal among Iran, Russia, China, Germany, Britain, France, and the US that prevents Tehran from developing nuclear weapons in return for sanctions relief. Even though US President Trump’s administration quit the accord in 2018—with Trump dubbing it “the worst deal ever”—Washington has threatened to use a provision in the agreement to trigger a return of all UN sanctions on Iran if the Security Council does not extend the arms embargo indefinitely. A last-minute attempt by Britain, France, and Germany to broker a compromise with Russia and China on an arms embargo extension appeared unsuccessful so far, diplomats tell Reuters. Russia and China, allies of Iran, have long-signaled opposition to the US measure. A Chinese diplomat at the United Nations, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that “extending the arms embargo on Iran in whatever form lacks legal basis and will undermine efforts to preserve” the nuclear deal, adding that there is “no chance” the US text will be adopted.