Iran arms embargo should be lifted as soon as possible - Lavrov

FA, July 9. /TASS/. Russia calls for lifting the arms embargo against Tehran as soon as possible, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters on Thursday. "We state that arms embargo against Iran should be in fact lifted among the first sanctions restrictions," Lavrov said. "The principle of phasing and reciprocity is a key that has allowed opening many negotiation deadlocks over the past long months of negotiations," Lavrov stressed. Lavrov reminded that the UN Security Council’s sanctions were imposed on Tehran "when serious doubts emerged in the peaceful character" of its nuclear programme. The sanctions are directed against "organizations, enterprises, individuals involved in Iran’s nuclear programme to influence this process and limit the programme," he said. "The second package of sanctions was adopted when Iran refused to hold talks and was motivated by the UN Security Council's wish to convince Iran politically and economically to sit down at the negotiating table," he said. The arms embargo was included in this package of sanctions, Lavrov said. "But the task of making Iran sit down at the negotiating table was accomplished a long time ago. We state that lifting arms embargo against Iran should take place as soon as possible," he said. Iran has been consistently supporting the struggle against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group and eliminating this threat, Lavrov said. "Lifting the arms embargo will allow Iran to increase its defence capability in the fight against terrorism," he said. "It is up to Tehran what solution and what compromise will be laid in the package of settling the Iranian nuclear programme," Lavrov said, adding that this also concerns the timeframe of the arms embargo. "We will support the choice our Iranian negotiators will make," he stressed. Read more