UN Security Council votes against lifting sanctions on Iran

But Tehran and the main European powers still have eight days to agree to postpone the activation of the mechanism for re-imposing sanctions.

The 15-member UN Security Council had to vote on the draft resolution on Friday.

This comes after Britain, France, and Germany launched a 30-day process on August 28 to reimpose UN sanctions, accusing Tehran of failing to comply with a 2015 nuclear agreement with international powers aimed at preventing it from developing a nuclear weapon.

Russia, China, Pakistan and Algeria voted in favor of the draft resolution. Nine members also voted against it, while two members abstained from voting.