![handle is hein.crs/govdbjv0001 and id is 1 raw text is:
U.N. Ban on Iran Arms Transfers
mppm qq\
p\w -- , gn'a'go,
I
aS
11LULANJILiN,
Updated August 19, 2020
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. The accord, endorsed by U.N. Security Council
Resolution 2231 (July 17, 2015), 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, seeks to extend the ban in
order to prevent Iran from acquiring new conventional
weaponry, particularly advanced combat aircraft. However,
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. Members
of the Council, including the European parties to the
JCPOA, also oppose a U.S. plan to implement its
longstanding threat to invoke the provision of Resolution
2231 that would snap back all U.N. sanctions on Iran if
the Council does not extend the arms transfer ban.
Annex B 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.
,o ,, ,t,,,,-,, of Arms ,, Tn,,,, , MaI
Annex B of Resolution 2231 restated and superseded the
Iran arms transfer restrictions of previous U.N. Security
Council resolutions. Resolution 1747 (March 24, 2007)
banned Iran's transfer of arms from its territory and
required all U.N. member states to prohibit the transfer of
Iranian arms. Resolution 1929 (June 9, 2010) 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 arms transfer ban expires on the earlier of: (1)
five years after the JCPOA Adoption Day (Adoption Day
was October 18, 2015), 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 2007, Russia agreed to the sale to Iran
of the S-300 air defense system, and it delivered the system
in November 2016. A State Department spokesperson said
in May 2016 that the sale ... is not formally a violation [of
2231] because the S-300 is for defensive uses only.
The U.S. government has assessed the arms transfer ban as
effective. According to Appendix J of 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, the ban on Iranian arms exports has arguably
not been effective. According to the DIA report, which
represents a consensus U.S. judgment, 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
.................................. ............. ....
............................................ ... ....
.................................. ........... ...
................................... ............ ...
......................... ...
...................... X.x
XX ...........
................. ....
.......... .. ...........
..........
...........
X.:
...............................
................. X .......
.........................
. ...........
..X.X.:
.............
............................. ::X.X.X.X.X.X
..............
.. . ................................. .. .............
.... - ....................
. ................
..........
...........
............................. ......
............................
.......................
...............
.........................
...............
.................................
..: ....................................
............... .................
.............................
...............
...............
...................
... ..............
............................................
..................................
..................................
..............
...............
..............
......................................................
......................................................
,: ..............
............................................... ......
......................................................
........................................ - - ........
......................................................
........................................ - - ..........
......................................................
...........iiiiiiiiiiiii! ! i!i~~~
ii](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.crs/govdbjv0001&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