US shares proposal to extend Iran arms embargo with Russia

U.S. Ambassor Kelly Craft said Friday she has shared a draft U.N. Security Council resolution with Russia that would extend arms embargo against Iran indefinitely.

Russia’s U.N. Ambassor Vassily Nebenzia said last month that Moscow will oppose any U.S. attempts to extend arms embargo, which expires on Oct. 18, and reimpose U.N. sanctions on Iran.

Craft told a press briefing that she also shared draft with United Kingdom, France, Germany and Estonia and hopes to give draft to rest of 15-member Security Council “pretty soon.”

But she said first she wants to talk to ambassors and “make sure everyone understands that we are committed to making certain that U.N. Security Council does t allow this to expire in October.”

“What I say to people is on Oct. 18 ... do we want Russia selling weapons to Iran? Do we want China selling? Do we want anyone providing or selling weapons to Iran?,” Craft asked. “I’m stressing that Russia and China need to join a global consensus on Iran’s conduct. This is about t only people of Iran but people in Middle East.”

Tensions between Iran and U.S. have escalated since Trump ministration withdrew from 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and six major powers in 2018 and reimposed crippling U.S. sanctions.

A year ago, U.S. sent thousands more troops, long-range bombers and an aircraft carrier to Middle East in response to what it called a growing threat of Iranian attacks on U.S. interests in region.

five or powers that signed nuclear deal — Russia, China, UK, France and Germany — remain committed to it, saying agreement is key to continuing inspections by International Atomic Energy ncy and preventing Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons.

Lifting arms embargo is part of 2015 Security Council resolution endorsing nuclear agreement.

In dition to opposing a new arms embargo, Russia’s Nebenzia has also dismissed as “ridiculous” possibility of Trump ministration seeking to use “snap back” provision in 2015 resolution, which would restore all U.N. sanctions against Iran that h been lifted or eased if nuclear deal is violated.

Nebenzia said U.S. pulled out of agreement and “y have right” to use any of its provisions.

But Craft said resolution “makes clear that US retains right” to use “snap back” provision.

Some Western governments privately fear that maintaining an arms embargo will le Iran to oust IAEA inspectors and move ahe on developing nuclear weapons.

latest IAEA report release Friday said Iran has continued to increase its stockpiles of low-enriched uranium in violation of 2015 nuclear deal.

nuclear deal promised Iran ecomic incentives in return for curbs on its nuclear program, which Tehran said it hasn’t received, especially since U.S. withdrawal in 2018. Iran has since slowly and openly violated nuclear restrictions to try and pressure remaining nations in agreement to increase incentives to offset ecomy-crippling U.S. sanctions.