Iran Hails Global “No” to US Intimidation as UNGA Rejects Trump's Quds Plan

TEHRAN (defapress) – Iran’s foreign minister praised the international community’s rejection of the US president’s decision to recognize al-Quds as the capital of Israel after a resounding majority of UN member states defied threats by the US to declare Trump's plan "null and void".

News ID: 67649

Date: 22 December 2017 - 13:15

In a tweet on Thursday night, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif hailed the UN General Assembly’s latest vote as “a resounding global NO to Trump regime's thuggish intimidation.”

It came after the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution asking nations not to locate diplomatic missions in the city of al-Quds (Jerusalem).

The non-binding resolution was approved at a UN General Assembly emergency meeting on Thursday with 128 votes in favor and nine against, while 35 countries abstained.

It passed despite intimidation by US President Donald Trump, who had threatened on Wednesday to eliminate financial aid to member states who would vote against his decision, while Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, had warned that she would be "taking names" of those countries.

By the recorded vote of 128 in favor to 9 against (Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Togo, United States), the General Assembly adopted the resolution “Status of Jerusalem”, by which it declared “null and void” any actions intended to alter al-Quds’ character, status or demographic composition.

Calling on all States to refrain from establishing embassies in al-Quds, it also demanded that they comply with all relevant Security Council resolutions and work to reverse the “negative trends” imperiling a two‑state solution.

Shortly after the vote, Palestinian leaders called the vote a victory for Palestine and thanked the UN member states that rejected Trump's unilateral move "despite all the pressure exerted on them".