Hatami: Tehran, Moscow to begin new chapter in defense cooperation after end of arms embargo

Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami said Tehran and Moscow will begin a new chapter in defense cooperation after the end of arms embargo on Iran in October.

Referring to the age-old relations between the two countries, the Iranian minister noted that ties between Iran and Russia date back to 30 years ago, which have improved in recent years. 

However, he said that Iran has been facing restrictions imposed by the UN in recent years, which limited the purchase of arms and military equipment. “But, after the end of the arms embargo, we will begin a new chapter in defense cooperation”, he told Russia-24 news channel.

He also pointed to a draft resolution proposed by the United States to extend Iran arms embargo, which was rejected by the UN Security Council on Friday.

On August 14, the UN Security Council almost unanimously refused to support a US-sponsored draft resolution on extending the arms embargo against Iran, which is due to expire in October under the Iran nuclear deal, from which Washington withdrew in 2018.

During the 15-member Security Council vote, the US received support only from the Dominican Republic for its anti-Iran resolution, leaving it far short of the minimum nine "yes" votes required for adoption.

Russia and China, both veto-wielding powers and parties to the nuclear deal, voted against the draft resolution and the remaining 11 Security Council members, including France, Germany and Britain, abstained.

“They are trying to unilaterally and hastily advance their resolution in the Security Council, exploiting their position in the Security Council and putting pressure on it,” the Iranian minister said.

Hatami also pointed to the importance of the Security Council’s rejection of the US-proposed resolution and the role Russia and China played in this regard.

Source: Iran Daily