Member of Parliament: Araqchi said the lifting of arms sanctions was not a red line

Hosseini Naqavi, spokesman for the special committee reviewing the nuclear agreement in the Iranian Parliament, quoted Abbas Araqchi as saying that Iran, having achieved "significant missile and military advancements" and "not adhering to its sanctions," did not consider the lifting of arms and missile sanctions in the UN resolution a "red line" for Tehran. The Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, who was also a senior member of the negotiating team with the six world powers, attended a parliamentary committee meeting on September 6 to discuss the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). According to the IRNA news agency, Mr. Naqavi quoted Mr. Araqchi stating that the JCPOA is an annex to the UN Security Council resolution following the nuclear agreement on July 14. However, he added, "the resolution is not part of the JCPOA." He further stated that, accordingly, "violating the JCPOA would lead to the reinstatement of sanctions, but violating the resolution would not, and according to this resolution, the arms and missile sanctions will not be lifted immediately." Abbas Araqchi explained to the Iranian parliamentary committee that this is why raising this issue in the Security Council resolution was not a red line for Tehran. However, the Iranian side was not willing for this issue to be raised in the nuclear agreement. According to this official, "the Islamic Republic's missile program will proceed at a faster pace and without restrictions." The UN Security Council issued a resolution on July 20, supporting the final agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 regarding Tehran's nuclear program. Based on this resolution, the Security Council, with the approval of its members, allows the delivery of ballistic missile technology and heavy weapons to Iran. However, the United States has already stated it will veto such a move. Meanwhile, Iran's restrictions on ballistic missile technology will remain for eight years, and heavy weapons restrictions will last for five years. The Security Council resolution also maintains conventional arms sanctions against Iran for five years. Iran and the six world powers spent long hours and days discussing the most contentious issues just before reaching the agreement. At the same time, one of the most important issues discussed was the matter of Iran's arms and missile sanctions. Abbas Araqchi, as a government official, has once again urged the Iranian Parliament not to approve the JCPOA, as he stated that in that case, the nuclear agreement would become "law" and would no longer just be an agreement between countries.