U.S. 'hopeful' U.N. will extend Iran arms embargo, Russia 'negative'

FILE PHOTO: Brian Hook, U.S. Special Representative for Iran, attends a news conference in London, Britain June 28, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United States is "hopeful" the U.N. Security Council will extend an arms embargo on Iran before it expires in October, a top U.S. State Department envoy said on Thursday, despite a key Russian official signalling that Moscow opposed such a move.

Brian Hook, the U.S. Special Representative for Iran, said the United States had drafted a Security Council resolution on the issue, which would need nine votes in favour and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, Britain or France to pass.