UN: We Have Not Received Reports of Iran's Attempts to Violate Sanctions

United Nations experts, in their latest annual report, state that they have not received any complaints from countries regarding Iran's attempts to violate arms sanctions. According to the Associated Press, the report published on Tuesday, June 9, indicates that a 'significant decrease in reports and information received' on this matter by the UN could suggest a reduction in Iran's efforts to acquire prohibited materials. The Associated Press also notes that such a trend is 'likely the result of a political decision [in Iran] to avoid the negative impacts of acquiring prohibited materials on the nuclear negotiations.' The release of this new report coincides with the announcement of a one-year extension of UN experts' oversight on the implementation of sanctions against Iran. The UN Security Council has so far enacted four rounds of sanctions against Iran aimed at curbing its nuclear program to alleviate concerns about potential military aspects of this program. Iran denies any military aspect to its nuclear program and considers the related allegations baseless. UN sanctions include a ban on the import of materials related to nuclear and missile activities, as well as travel bans on certain individuals and the freezing of assets of several individuals and companies. The latest report from UN experts states that although no country has reported a case of sanctions violation by Iran, there have been media reports regarding the presence of Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. The report notes that Soleimani has been on the UN sanctions list since 2007. Other media reports that require investigation, according to UN experts, relate to the potential shipment of weapons by Iran to Iraq and Yemen.