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Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks of a “diplomatic victory”. The United States tried in vain to prevent the end of the UN arms embargo. His Foreign Minister, Mohammed Javad Zarif, sees a normalization of his country’s defense cooperation with the world. That contributes to peace and stability in the region.
More modern Iranian fighter jets, submarines or missiles? Very few in the Middle East are likely to see this as a consolidation of peace or a promotion of stability. There is great concern in Israel. Americans are really angry. His foreign minister, Mike Pompeo, is now threatening retaliation by the United States for initiating arms deals with Iran.
United States could not join
In fact, the United States diplomatically botched an extension of the embargo. This is because they wanted to tear down the nuclear deal with Iran by extending it. However, this is rejected by the other partners in the nuclear deal, both Russia and China and America’s allies Britain, France and Germany.
In fact, Tehran wants to make numerous large arms purchases. But there are some arguments against the fact that now the big shopping spree begins.
Keystone
In Tehran there is now a real need to buy the most modern weapons. Much of Iran’s arsenals, like the fighter jet fleet, are very old. It dates from the time when the Shah ruled, to whom the United States still loved to sell weapons at will.
However, current buying wishes do not correspond to corresponding options: after years of economic sanctions, the Iranian regime is extremely short of money. Furthermore, at least Western countries are likely to refrain from selling war goods even without a UN arms embargo. They fear American sanctions too much if they do.
It is not the best and most expensive material.
China and Russia, on the other hand, would be more willing to do so. However, within limits: neither Beijing nor Moscow wants to completely offend the Gulf states, which are important to them as partners and with a prosperous purchasing power and which are hostile to Iran, with arms deliveries to Tehran. For Iran, for example, new missiles or a modernization of the submarine fleet should be within reach.
But not necessarily the best and most expensive, and there are hardly any Russian SU-30 fighters or T-90 tanks. Iran can arm itself more easily from now on, but hardly at the speed and range it would like.
Fredy gsteiger
Diplomatic Correspondent, SRF
