Zarif: The American allegations about the repercussions of the end of the arms embargo on Iran are ridiculous

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif considered the allegations of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about the repercussions of the end of the arms embargo on Iran ridiculous. 

“Pompeo is desperate to mislead the world to the extent that he claims that by next October, Iran will take the initiative to purchase jetfighters then it will send them to points beyond its maximum range, perhaps he can explain to us how these jetfighters will return to Iran after they run out of fuel,” Zarif twitted on June 24.

According to the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 which was issued after the signing of the nuclear agreement in 2015, Iran will be allowed from next October to buy and sell conventional weapons. Based on the decision, there is no ban on Iran to buy and sell weapons, but it is conditional upon obtaining permission from the UN Security Council.

On the other hand, the spokesman for Iran’s Representation in the United Nations Ali Reza Mir Yousfi said that his country will not plead to start new negotiations and will never negotiate over its missile defense program or its legitimate national and regional interests.

“This agreement removes all concerns related to Iran’s peaceful nuclear program. After two years of intense negotiations, all parties expressed their satisfaction with all issues, including the possible military dimensions of the Iranian nuclear program, were dealt with and closed by the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2015,” Yousfi said in a statement in response to an article published by the American Wall Street Journal entitled ‘Iran’s Pre-Deal Deceptions’ 

(https://www.wsj.com/articles/irans-pre-deal-deceptions-11591744764).

He added that the American accusations that these issues were not closed are merely sophistry and these allegations were not confirmed by any of the signatories of the nuclear agreement.

O. al-Mohammad