News / Politics

Lifting of UN arms ban outcome of Iran’s correct policy on JCPOA: Govt. spox

Tuesday, 20 October 2020 11:27 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 20 October 2020 11:39 AM ]

An Iranian missile is fired on July 28, 2020 during naval drills by the Islamic Republic Guards Corps (IRGC) in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. (Photo by Tasnim news agency)

Government spokesman Ali Rabiei has hailed the lifting of the UN arms embargo on Iran as an “achievement,” saying it shows that the country adopted a “correct policy” when it chose to remain a party to the 2015 nuclear deal despite America’s pullout.

Speaking at a media briefing in Tehran on Tuesday, Rabiei said that the expiry of the decade-long arms ban was the result of Iran’s righteousness and its people’s resistance.

“Despite political opposition and pressure as well as the excessive demands of the United States, Israel and their regional allies, these restrictions have been lifted. This is a sign for both the international community and our dear people,” he added.

US afraid of Iran’s return to world’s military export market: Ministry

Iran says the United States is afraid of its tapping into the weapon export market now that Tehran has had an arms embargo lifted against it.

The embargo was removed on Sunday under UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2231, which endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

President Donald Trump, who pulled the US out of the JCPOA in May 2018, had tried in vain to renew the ban through an anti-Iran resolution at the UNSC in mid-August.

Iran declares official termination of UN arms embargo

Iran’s Foreign Ministry says the UN Security Council’s arms restrictions against Tehran have all been terminated in defiance of the United States’ efforts.

The draft was supported only by the Dominican Republic, leaving it far short of the minimum nine “yes” votes required for adoption.

Rabiei noted that the termination of the arms embargo heralds the lifting of other oppressive sanctions against Iran in the fields of economy, finance and banking, and humanitarian goods.

“This achievement showed that we adopted the right policy despite Trump’s erroneous and warmongering decisions under the assumption that Iran would follow suit when US left the JCPOA,” he said.

“That correct policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran on not leaving the JCPOA showed its result today, he said. “In addition to curbing the US government’s plan to isolate Iran and reinstate Security Council resolutions, it (the policy) will reveal its positive outcomes over time.”

In September, Washington suffered another embarrassing loss as it failed to trigger the so-called snapback provision in the JCPOA aimed at re-imposing all UN sanctions against Iran.

The UN Security Council member states challenged the US’s rationale that it was still a participant state to the nuclear accord, citing its unilateral withdrawal in 2018.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the government spokesman stressed the peaceful nature of Iran’s defense doctrine.

“Iranians do not love weapons; they love peace, stability, coexistence and cooperation in the region aimed at sustainable development. Iranian weaponry serve as one of the essential components in the defense sector,” he said.

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