Iran, Turkey block rivals from joining U.N. disarmament talks

FILE PHOTO: The Conference on Disarmament in session at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, February 28, 2018. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

GENEVA (Reuters) - Talks aimed at overcoming a years-long deadlock over disarmament at the United Nations began in acrimony on Tuesday with two countries blocking rivals from taking part in widely criticised manoeuvres that sparked concern about the forum's future.

Iran blocked Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates from joining as observers, lashing out at the former's military record, while Turkey blocked Cyprus in a trend that marks a significant departure from normal U.N. protocol and might set a precedent for other bodies that operate on a consensus basis.