Iran loses voting rights at UN after going failing to pay dues

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said this week that Iran will lose its voting rights in the General Assembly after failing to pay its dues to the multilateral organization’s operating budget.

Iran would need to pay $16,251,298 to have its voting rights restored, compared to the $1,443,640 owed by Somalia and $29,395 owed by the Central African Republic. The U.N.’s charter says the members whose arrears equal or exceed the amount of the contributions for the prior two years lose their rights -- but it also allowed the General Assembly to decide that their non-payment is beyond their control and allow them to continue to vote.