Washington, Jul 1 (IANS): US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the UN Security Council (UNSC) to extend an arms embargo on Iran that expires in October.

Speaking at a virtual UNSC meeting on Tuesday, Pompeo warned that the expiration of the embargo would embolden Iran to destabilize the region, Xinhua news agency reported.

Under UNSC Resolution 2231, which endorses the Iran nuclear deal, the arms embargo on Iran will be lifted in mid-October. Tehran said it would not accept a renewal of the arms embargo.

Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN undersecretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs, said Tuesday that the Iran nuclear deal is a significant achievement of multilateral diplomacy and dialogue, and it remains crucial to the global nuclear non-proliferation architecture and to regional and international security.

It is regrettable that the future of this agreement is in doubt after the withdrawal of the United States from it and the reversal of some of Iran's commitments, DiCarlo said.

The United States withdrew from the agreement in May 2018. Before that date, the International Atomic Energy Agency verified in 11 reports that Iran was complying with its nuclear commitments contained in the plan, she noted.

The US withdrawal from the plan and the reimposition of US national sanctions lifted under the plan have impeded the ability of Iran and other member states to fully implement the plan and the resolution, DiCarlo said, adding the UN also regrets the steps Iran has taken since July 2019 in response to the US withdrawal.