U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned allies about the approaching end of some of UN arms and other sanctions against Iran.
In a tweet August 13, Pompeo shows a countdown clock and says, “The clock is ticking. Time remaining before the UN arms embargo on Iran expires…”
According to UN resolution 2231 following the conclusion of the 2015 nuclear agreement, a deadline was set for a series of sanctions to end by October 18, 2020.
The resolution asked UN member states to observe a number of limitations in dealings with Iran, including sale or transfer of tanks, armored vehicles, heavy artillery, warships and related spare parts. Also, included in the resolution was training and financial services aimed at facilitating of same weapons.
The limitations were set for five years, to be concluded upon a final determination by the International Atomic Energy Agency verifying Iran’s compliance with the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA, as the nuclear accord is known.
The United States withdrew from the nuclear deal in May 2018 and Pompeo later said that the UN limitations on Iran should not end in 2020.
America’s European allies have remained committed to the agreement but have voiced concern over Iran’s interventions in regional countries and its ballistic missile program.