On which major issues does the security council agree, and which issues, do they veto?
Justice Council Political Analysis
The Council agrees where no permanent member, or a state close to one, is directly exposed. That covers routine peacekeeping and sanctions renewals such as Cyprus and South Sudan, and in the past Iran's nuclear file. It splits by veto where a permanent member's own conduct or a partner's is at stake: Gaza for the US, Ukraine for Russia, and Iran sanctions monitoring for Russia and China. The main cause is the Charter's veto rule. Second is the rivalry among the great powers, which has pushed vetoes to their highest level since 1986.
The Security Council still agrees on routine business: renewing peacekeeping missions such as UNFICYP in Cyprus, and sanctions regimes such as South Sudan's arms embargo and asset freeze. In the past it was also united on Iran's nuclear programme. The veto falls where a permanent member or its partner is exposed. The US has vetoed on Gaza, Russia on Ukraine, and Russia and China on monitoring Iran sanctions, while divisions also paralyse action on Myanmar and Sudan.
The remedy
Make vetoes more costly for the state casting them. One way is to widen the Liechtenstein veto initiative (General Assembly resolution 76/262 of 2022, which requires an Assembly debate after every veto). Another is for permanent members to commit to abstain where they or their partners are parties to a dispute.
Sources
International & regional bodies
UN Secretary-General António Guterres says divisions among veto-holding 'superpowers' are blocking effective solutions, and that reforming the Security Council is the most important reform the UN needs.
Governments & official records
Official statements show the Council still agrees on routine mandate renewals. In January 2026 it renewed the Cyprus peacekeeping force (UNFICYP) for 12 months. In May 2026 it renewed South Sudan's arms embargo, travel ban, asset freeze and Panel of Experts. In September 2026 a veto stopped the renewal of the expert panel that monitors Iran sanctions.
- Announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding UN Security Council Resolution 2815 (2026) on the renewal of the mandate of UNFICYP · mfa.gr
- Explanation of Vote Following the Adoption of a UN Security Council Resolution Renewing the South Sudan Sanctions Regime · usun.usmission.gov
- Explanation of Vote on a UN Security Council Resolution on Nonproliferation and Iran · usun.usmission.gov
Research institutes
Security Council Report finds that divisions among the five permanent members have hindered Council action on Myanmar, Sudan, the Middle East including Palestine, and Ukraine. It also finds vetoes are rising. In 2024 seven draft resolutions were vetoed, the most since 1986, with eight vetoes in all (four by Russia, three by the US, one by China). In 2025 there were four vetoes: two by the US on Gaza and two by Russia on amendments to a Ukraine resolution.
- In Hindsight: Living with the Veto · securitycouncilreport.org
- UN Security Council Resolutions on Iran · armscontrol.org
News & reporting
The National reports that the US draft to extend the Iran sanctions panel got 11 votes in favour, 2 abstentions (one of them Pakistan) and 2 against, the vetoes of Russia and China. Behind the split is a dispute over whether UN sanctions on Iran were restored by Britain, France and Germany's 2025 'snapback' or ended when Resolution 2231 expired on 18 October 2025.