Barack Obama won backing yesterday from the United Nations for measures to move towards his vision of a world without nuclear weapons, although he faces mounting obstacles at home to keeping his side of the bargain.
Mr Obama, who became the first US president to chair the UN Security Council, won unanimous support for a resolution Washington says should lead to tighter controls on weapons states, an end to loopholes exploited by countries such as Iran and a lower risk of new nuclear arms race.
“The historic resolution we just adopted enshrines our shared commitment to a goal of a world without nuclear weapons,” Mr Obama said. “And it brings Security Council agreement on a broad framework for action to reduce nuclear dangers as we work toward that goal.”