The US Will Use All Means to Prevent Sino-Russian from Selling Arms to …

WASHINGTON – Minister of Foreign Affairs United States of America (US) Mike Pompeo said Washington would use every tool available to prevent China and Russia of “breaking” the sanctions imposed upon arms sales to Iran.

“The world will be a safer place. Iran will have no chance of having Russian air defenses, some Chinese tanks – all the things that pose risk and instability in the Middle East. The Gulf countries are very excited about it. Israel is very excited about that,” Pompeo said as quoted from Sputnik, Saturday (22/8/2020).

Pompeo further expressed his disappointment over the actions of his allies in UN Security Council (DK), which does not support US intentions to initiate a mechanism “snapback” sanctions against Iran. The top US diplomat had previously threatened to overthrow sanctions against any country that opposes the US plan. (Read: Annoyed, the US Called Its European Allies Supporters of Ayatollah)

The “snapback” mechanism is a part of the Iran nuclear agreement, which is also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was signed in 2015 by a group of European countries, the US, Russia and China. This mechanism should have been implemented if Tehran stopped fulfilling its obligations under the agreement.

The United States has asked the UNDK to restore all sanctions lifted through a “snapback” mechanism, citing Iran’s decision to go beyond limits on nuclear enrichment set by the JCPOA.

This initiative was opposed by the majority of the UN Security Council. Iran, Russia and China argue that Washington lost its right to trigger “snapback” sanctions when it withdrew from the JCPOA in May 2018 and imposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran, which actually prompted the country to decide to cancel its obligations. The same opinion was expressed by three European countries which are also US allies, namely Britain, France and Germany. (Read: European Trio Reject US Enabling ‘Snapback’ Clause)

While the move disappointed the remaining signatories, Iranian authorities made it clear they did not feel compelled to follow the restrictions because the US had lost the only advantage it had from signing a nuclear deal.

(ber)

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