Russia and China vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution introduced by the United States to renew the mandate of the panel of exports monitoring U.N. sanctions on Iran. Eleven other members of the Security Council, including France and the United Kingdom, voted in favor of the U.S. resolution, and two members abstained. The Chinese and Russian ambassadors rejected the validity of restored U.N. sanctions on Iran and said they supported Iran's right to a civilian nuclear program.