Iran sees no arms buying spree as it expects UN embargo to end

Dubai, October 18

Iran mentioned it was self-reliant in its protection and had no must go on a weapons shopping for spree as a United Nations standard arms embargo was attributable to expire on Sunday regardless of sturdy US opposition.

“Iran’s defence doctrine is premised on strong reliance on its people and indigenous capabilities … Unconventional arms, weapons of mass destruction and a buying spree of conventional arms have no place in Iran’s defense doctrine,” mentioned a Foreign Ministry assertion carried by state media.

The 2007 Security Council arms embargo on Iran was attributable to expire on Sunday, as agreed to beneath the 2015 nuclear deal amongst Iran, Russia, China, Germany, Britain, France and the United States that sought to stop Tehran from creating nuclear weapons in return for financial sanctions aid.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have soared since US President Donald Trump in 2018 unilaterally withdrew from the deal, nevertheless.

In August, the Trump administration triggered a course of aimed toward restoring all UN sanctions, after the UN Security Council rejected a US bid to increase the standard arms embargo on the nation.

“Today’s normalisation of Iran’s defense cooperation with the world is a win for the cause of multilateralism and peace and security in our region,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif mentioned on Twitter.

Days after triggering the method, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Russia and China to not disregard the reimposition of all UN sanctions on Iran which Washington has demanded.

When requested whether or not the United States would goal Russia and China with sanctions in the event that they refuse to reimpose the UN measures on Iran, Pompeo mentioned: “Absolutely.” “We have already done that, where we have seen any country violate … the current American sanctions, we’ve held every nation accountable for that. We’ll do the same thing with respect to the broader UN Security Council sanctions as well,” he mentioned.

Iran has developed a big home arms trade within the face of worldwide sanctions and embargoes which have barred it from importing many weapons.

Western army analysts say Iran typically exaggerates its weapons capabilities, though issues about its long-range ballistic missile program contributed to Washington leaving the Iran nuclear deal. Reuters