The U.S. Calls for Continued Arms Restrictions on Iran After 2020

On Wednesday, December 12, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated at a United Nations Security Council meeting that Washington is working with 14 other members of the council to re-establish ballistic missile restrictions on Iran. According to a Reuters report, Pompeo also said that the United Nations arms embargo against Iran should not be lifted in 2020, urging the Security Council to implement 'deterrent measures and inspections in ports and international waters' to neutralize what he described as Iran's 'persistent efforts to circumvent arms restrictions.' He emphasized, 'The United States stands firmly in forming a coalition to counter the ballistic missile activities of the Iranian regime and other destructive behaviors, including the abuse of its own people. We will continue to stand with the ordinary people of Iran, who are the greatest victims of this suffering regime.' Pompeo added, 'The Iranian regime has exploited the goodwill of countries and has violated multiple UN Security Council resolutions in pursuit of a ballistic missile force. The United States will never tolerate this. No country seeking peace and prosperity in the Middle East should tolerate this either.' According to UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which was issued on July 20, 2015, in support of the six-power agreement with Iran regarding its nuclear program, the import or export of arms to or from Iran has been prohibited for five years. This prohibition expires in 2020. Resolution 2231 calls on all countries to comply with the following arms restrictions regarding Iran for five years: * Supply, sale, or transfer of any battle tanks, armored combat vehicles, heavy artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles, or missile systems, in accordance with the objectives of the 'UN Conventional Arms List'; * Supply of related materials, including spare parts, from within or through their territories, or by their nationals or persons under their jurisdiction, or using aircraft and ships flying their flags, whether originating from their territory or not, to Iran or for use in Iran or to benefit Iran; * Provision of technical training, resources, or financial services, proposals, other services, and assistance related to the supply, sale, transfer, production, maintenance, or use of the weapons and related materials described in this sub-paragraph to Iran by nationals of these countries or from within or through their territories; * This provision must be implemented for five years after the 'day of acceptance of the JCPOA' or until the International Atomic Energy Agency provides a report confirming the 'comprehensive summary,' whichever occurs first. In another part of his remarks, Pompeo stated, 'Iran is hosting al-Qaeda, supports Taliban militants in Afghanistan, arms terrorists in Lebanon, assists illegal charcoal trade in Somalia for al-Shabaab, and trains and equips Shiite militants in Iraq.' Russia and China, which along with France, Britain, and the U.S. have veto power, are likely to oppose the actions proposed by the U.S. Secretary of State. Russia vetoed a proposed resolution against Iran in the Security Council last February regarding its role in the Yemen crisis. Washington's call for continued arms restrictions on Iran after 2020 comes after President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the JCPOA on May 8 and reinstated sanctions on Iran. After the Security Council meeting, the U.S. Secretary of State told reporters that Iran has adopted a confrontational approach against the Security Council resolutions regarding its missile program and urged the council to take action against this 'destructive activity.' According to Reuters, Pompeo added, 'The threat is real and has targeted us. We clearly see that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) has failed to stop this destructive behavior of Iran.' He stated, 'This council has a responsibility to protect the citizens of the Middle East, Americans traveling to the region, and Europeans at risk from Iranian missiles.' Meanwhile, eight European countries on Wednesday, while supporting the JCPOA, issued a statement urging Tehran to refrain from 'destabilizing activities in the region,' especially its ballistic missile tests. According to an Associated Press report, the statement says, 'It has been confirmed that Iran continues to fulfill its commitments regarding its nuclear program.' However, they warned that activities related to ballistic missiles, including 'launching missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads and transferring missile technologies and components,' are considered violations of Security Council resolutions. The ambassadors of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and the UK issued this statement on Wednesday before the UN Security Council meeting on Iran. The U.S. Secretary of State announced last week that Iran tested a medium-range ballistic missile and deemed it a violation of Security Council resolutions. Pompeo emphasized, 'This type of missile is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and can target parts of Europe and the entire Middle East.' His remarks provoked reactions from Iranian and European officials, and even the UN Security Council held a closed-door meeting on this issue at the request of France and Britain. Initially, Iranian officials did not confirm or deny the news, stating only that Iran's missile tests do not violate UN resolutions because these missiles are not capable of carrying nuclear warheads. However, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, confirmed such a test on Tuesday, calling it 'significant.' Security Council Resolution 2231 has called on Iran to refrain from 'any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to carry nuclear weapons for eight years, including the firing of any missile using such missile-related technologies.'