Russia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzia, criticized the United States for trying to extend the arms embargo on Iran.
The Russian official told reporters over the video that the United States cannot demand an extension of the arms embargo imposed on Iran, because it is no longer a member of the nuclear agreement.
“I do not see a reason for imposing an arms embargo on Iran … Technically, it was not even a ban, but rather a specific purchase quota … This restriction ends on October 18 … a point … this is clear to us,” Nipenzia added.
The Russian delegate continued: “Two years ago … on May 8, 2018, the United States proudly announced that it would leave the joint comprehensive plan of action for the Iranian nuclear program, and closed the door behind it .. Now he touched on this door saying: Wait, we forgot to do one thing in the agreement. Let’s do this and leave again … it’s funny. ”
The official stressed that “to do anything stipulated in the joint comprehensive plan of action, you must be a member of the action plan … The United States has not been a member of it for two years.”
The United States, Russia, China, Germany, Britain, and France struck a deal with Iran in 2015, which prevents Tehran from developing nuclear weapons in exchange for the easing of sanctions.
In 2018, US President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement his predecessor Barack Obama described as “the worst agreement ever.”
But US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last month that the language of the resolution “is unambiguous” and “the rights that participants enjoy under the UN Security Council resolution are fully available to all of these participants.”
He was referring to the ability of any party involved in the nuclear agreement, known as the joint comprehensive plan of action, to activate the so-called return of all United Nations sanctions against Iran.
Diplomats say the United States will face a chaotic battle if it tries to activate the return of sanctions that include an arms embargo on Iran. It is not yet clear how or if a member of the Security Council could stop such a move.
The United States has proposed to the European parties in the agreement the possibility of reimposing sanctions if it is unable to persuade the Security Council to stop the arms embargo imposed on Iran, which will expire in October.
Source: Agencies
