![handle is hein.crs/govdblp0001 and id is 1 raw text is:
FF.
Updated September 1, 2020
U.N. Ban on Iran Arms Transfers and Sanctions Snapback
Olverview
A 2015 multilateral Iran nuclear agreement (Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action, JCPOA), provides for
limits on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions
relief. U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231 (July 17,
2015), which endorsed the JCPOA, contains Annex B that
provides for a ban on the transfer of arms to or from Iran
until October 18, 2020. The Trump Administration, with
the support of many in Congress, has sought to extend the
ban in order to try to prevent Iran from acquiring new
conventional weaponry, particularly advanced combat
aircraft. On August 14, the U.N. Security Council,
including two key potential arms suppliers of Iran-Russia
and China-voted down a U.S. draft to extend the arms
transfer ban. An overwhelming majority of the Council also
questions that the United States has standing for its August
20 request to implement the provision of Resolution 2231
that snaps back all U.N. sanctions on Iran, including the
arms transfer ban. The dispute within the Council over the
U.S snapback request has no clear path to resolution.
Annex B also contains a ban, until October 18, 2023, on
supplying equipment with which Iran could develop
nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, and calls on Iran not to
develop ballistic missiles designed to carry nuclear
weapons. See CRS Report RS20871, Iran Sanctions, by
Kenneth Katzman.
Provisions of the Arms-,,\ Transfier Bank-
Annex B of Resolution 2231 restated and superseded the
restrictions of: (1) Resolution 1747 (March 24, 2007),
which banned Iran's transfer of arms from its territory and
required all U.N. member states to prohibit the transfer of
Iranian arms from its territory, and (2) Resolution 1929
(June 9, 2010), which banned the supply to Iran of any
battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, large calibre
artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters,
warships, missiles or missile systems as defined for the
purpose of the United Nations Register of Arms [ballistic or
cruise missiles capable of delivering a warhead or weapon
of destruction to a range of at least 16 miles] or related
materiel, including spare parts.... The Security Council
can waive the restrictions on a case-by-case basis, but no
Iran arms transfers have been approved to date. The ban
expires on the earlier of (1) five years after the JCPOA
Adoption Day (ie: October 18, 2020), or (2) upon the
issuing by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
of a Broader Conclusion that all nuclear material in Iran
remains in peaceful activities.
U.S. and other Security Council member officials interpret
the restriction as inapplicable to the sale to Iran of purely
defensive systems. In 2016, Russia delivered to Iran the S-
300 air defense system, which a State Department
spokesperson described as ...not formally a violation [of
2231] because the S-300 is for defensive uses only.
Elffects of the Ban-,
Implying that the ban on arms sales to Iran has been
effective, the congressionally mandated Defense
Intelligence Agency (DIA) annual report on the military
power of Iran for 2019, released in November 2019, states
that Iran wants to purchase new advanced weapon systems
from foreign suppliers to modernize its armed forces,
including equipment it has largely been unable to acquire
for decades.
Figure I. Iran's Regional Allies
Source: Defense Intelligence Agency. Iran Military Power: 2019.
By contrast, regarding the ban on Iranian arms exports, the
DIA report (which represents a consensus U.S. judgment)
stated: Since the Islamic Revolution, Iran has transferred a
wide range of weapons and military equipment to state and
non-state actors, including designated terrorist
organizations.... Although some Iranian shipments have
been interdicted, Tehran is often able to get high-priority
arms transfers to its customers. [See Figure 1.] Over the
years, Iranian transfers to state and non-state actors have
included communications equipment; small arms-such as
assault rifles, sniper rifles, machine guns, mortars, and
rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs)-and ammunition; ...
artillery systems, including MRLs (multiple rocket
launchers) and battlefield rockets and launchers; armored
vehicles; FAC (fast attack craft); equipment for unmanned
explosives boats; ... SAMs (surface-to-air missiles); UAVs
(unmanned aerial vehicles) ... ground-attack aircraft ...
and other weaponry. A June 2020 report by the U.N.
Secretary General on implementation of Resolution 2231
assessed that Iran attempted to export weaponry and missile
parts to Houthi forces in Yemen, and U.S. and allied forces
intercepted some of that weaponry in November 2019 and
February 2020. See CRS Report R44017, Iran 's Foreign
and Defense Policies, by Kenneth Katzman.
hips!!-----po-----ong-ess gov
.... ...................
..................
.. .........
...........................
..............
. . ....... .....
......................
...........................
........ .................... ............
..... . .... - ....... .............
.. ....................
...........
.......................
............................ ........ ....... ..........
...................... .......... ...........
.......................
.................
......................... .... ............... -
.......................
.................................................................
........................... ...........
gognpo goo
g
, q
'S
a X
11LULKWALiN,](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.crs/govdblp0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)
What Is HeinOnline?
Contact us for annual subscription options:
Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?
profiles profiles most
Contact us for annual subscription options:
Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?
profiles profiles most
Contact us for annual subscription options:
Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?
profiles profiles most