US: Russia and China Await Arms Sales to Iran

The US representative to the United Nations has called on China and Russia not to oppose his country’s proposed resolution. Germany, France and Britain have attempted to convince Russia and China to join in extending the arms embargo on Iran, but have been unsuccessful.

The UN Security Council will review the US-proposed resolution to extend Iran’s arms embargo on Tuesday, August 11 (Mordad 21). The text of this resolution was previously made available to international media and diplomats.

Kelly Craft, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said in an interview with Fox News on Monday, August 10 (Mordad 20): “Russia and China are waiting for UN arms sanctions against the Islamic Republic to be lifted so they can sell weapons to Iran”.

She pointed to a scenario in which Russia and China have opposed the extension of arms sanctions against Iran, and in the absence of sanctions, the ground has been prepared for the sale of weapons to the Islamic Republic.

Craft further stated: “In that case, Iran would gain access to modern and deadly weapons and would send these weapons to its terrorist organizations in the region and the world”.

The US ambassador to the UN called the Islamic Republic “the world’s number one state sponsor of terrorism” and said the United States would never allow the purchase and sale of weapons to this country. Craft also emphasized that the US is obligated to protect the representatives of countries present at the United Nations.

In a tweet published on the eve of the UN meeting, Craft reiterated that “the US cannot allow Iran to continue destabilizing the Middle East by arming terrorists”.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly rejected accusations regarding “support for terrorism and terrorist groups”.

The US is seeking to extend Iran’s arms embargo, which was approved under UN Security Council Resolution 2231. Under the nuclear agreement (JCPOA), UN arms sanctions against the Islamic Republic are set to expire on October 18 (Mehr 27).

Reuters also reported in its latest report ahead of the UN Security Council meeting in New York that Germany, Britain and France, the European troika signatories to the JCPOA on the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, have attempted to persuade China and Russia to join the US-proposed resolution, but their efforts have been unsuccessful.

While expressing concern about the lifting of arms sanctions against the Islamic Republic, these three countries called for the continuation of sanctions until 2023. Germany, France and Britain also stressed that they remain committed to the JCPOA.

Reuters reported, citing a Chinese diplomat, that “the US resolution to extend the arms embargo has no chance of being adopted. According to this Chinese diplomat, extending the arms embargo against Iran has no legal basis and would harm the preservation of the atomic agreement with Iran”.

China and Russia can use their veto power in the UN Security Council to prevent the adoption of the US resolution.

So if Iran’s arms embargo is not extended at the UN Security Council, what would happen?

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has announced that the United States would not allow Iran to buy weapons even after the UN sanctions expire.

Kelly Craft, the US ambassador to the United Nations, has said that if the arms sanctions against Iran are not extended, the “snapback mechanism” will be used. US officials believe that although the United States withdrew from the JCPOA in May 2018, it is still considered a “participant” and has the authority to activate the snapback mechanism.

If the snapback mechanism is activated, all UN sanctions against Iran will be reimposed.

However, China, Russia and the Islamic Republic say the United States has withdrawn from the JCPOA and does not have the ability to use this mechanism.

Source: DW