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The lifting of the arms embargo on Iran is expected to lead Tehran to buy weapons abroad, amid threats from the United States to impose more sanctions to limit arms access to Iran.
With the end of the United Nations ban on conventional weapons, Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami said on Sunday that Iran will start buying and selling weapons now, while the United States has threatened to impose new sanctions against Tehran and all those who supply him with weapons.
Hatami said Iran has the right to “get what we need and provide others in the world with what they need from us. Iran will not sell arms for money as the United States does, but will sell arms to countries that exercise their legitimate right to self-defense, ”according to the Israeli Jerusalem Post.
Iran stressed, in a statement from its Foreign Ministry, that it is not planning a “buying spree”, but is theoretically preparing to buy equipment to modernize its equipment dating back to before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and sell its domestic production team abroad.
The US Defense Intelligence Agency had predicted in 2019 that if the embargo ended, Iran would likely attempt to purchase Russian Su-30 fighter jets, Yak-130 trainer jets, and T-190 tanks.
He claimed that Tehran could also try to buy a Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile system and the “Bastian” coastal defense missile system. China could also sell weapons to Iran.
However, in practice, the Iranian economy is still disrupted by US sanctions and the reluctance of other countries to conclude arms deals with Tehran for fear of financial retaliation from the United States.
Tehran’s announcement to lift the international embargo imposed on its purchase and sale of weapons, such as tanks and fighter jets, has been met by the wave of Washington, which for years has adopted a policy of “maximum pressure” on the Islamic Republic. , to impose sanctions on any party that contributes to the supply of arms to Iran or cooperates with it in the military field in the next period.
A statement from Tehran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reported by state media, stated that “As of today (October 18), all restrictions on the transfer of arms, related activities (with that) and financial services to and from the Islamic Republic of Iran … have been automatically canceled. “
Western military analysts say Iran often overstates its weapons capabilities, despite concerns about its long-range ballistic missile program contributing to Washington’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal.
What is the decision to ban weapons?
And the expiration of the arms embargo imposed by the Security Council on Iran in 2007, according to the 2015 nuclear agreement between Tehran, Russia, China, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and the United States, and Security Council Resolution 2231, which formally adopted the agreement that same year.
But the UN arms embargo has not stopped Iran from sending weapons, from assault rifles to ballistic missiles, to its militias in the region, including the Houthi militia in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The United Nations also linked Iran to the 2019 attack on a major oil refinery in Saudi Arabia, despite denials from Tehran, while the Houthis in Yemen claimed responsibility.
October 18, 2020 coincides with the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Security Council resolution. The nuclear deal aims to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons in exchange for easing economic sanctions.
Furthermore, this date coincided with the end of the travel ban imposed by the United Nations on various members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
Tensions have risen between Washington and Tehran since US President Donald Trump’s decision to unilaterally withdraw from the deal in 2018.
Tensions between Iran and the United States peaked earlier this year, when an American airstrike killed a prominent Iranian general, Qassem Soleimani, in Baghdad.
Tehran responded with a ballistic missile attack on US forces stationed in Iraq.
Meanwhile, Iran has consistently violated the limits of the nuclear deal, in an effort to pressure Europe to save the deal.
reactions
Commenting on the Iranian announcement, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rejected an end to the embargo, saying in a statement: “The United States is ready to use its national authority to punish anyone who provides technical training, financial support. , financial services or other assistance related to these weapons. “
He added: “For the past ten years, countries have refrained from selling weapons to Iran in accordance with many UN resolutions. “Any country that defies this embargo now will clearly choose to fuel conflict and tensions rather than peace and security.”
Pompeo said his country is willing to “use its national authorities to impose sanctions on any individual or entity that makes a tangible contribution to the supply, sale and transfer of conventional arms to Iran.”
He continued: “All countries that desire peace and stability in the Middle East, and support the fight against terrorism, must refrain from engaging in arms trafficking with Iran.”
For its part, Israel commented on Twitter on Tehran’s announcement on the position of its Defense Minister Benny Gantz, stating: “With the end of the arms embargo on Iran today, we must be stronger and more determined than ever.”
“As defense minister, I will continue to take whatever action is necessary, in cooperation with our partners, old and new, to prevent Iran from expanding and assembling it.” All countries must join in this important effort.
The Gulf states, which supported the extension of the arms embargo, have also indicated arms shipments to Yemen, objecting to the resumption of any arms sales to Iran.
In a letter to the UN Security Council, he claimed that Iran had accidentally shot down a Ukrainian airliner last January, and its naval fleet had accidentally killed 19 sailors in a missile strike during a training exercise.
Washington, which reimposed tough economic sanctions on Tehran, tried to extend this ban last August, but that attempt was met with widespread opposition in the Security Council.
Days after the Security Council refused, Pompeo warned Russia and China not to neglect the US demand to reimpose all UN sanctions on Tehran.
Pompeo indicated that Washington would impose sanctions on Russia and China if they refused to reimpose sanctions on Tehran.
