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UN Sanctions Loophole: Russia Can Send Missiles to Iran

(Washington Times) Bill Gertz and Eli Lake - A draft UN resolution that would impose sanctions on Iran, including limits on global arms transfers, will not block the controversial transfer of Russian S-300 missiles to the Iranian military, according to U.S. and Russian officials. The CIA has said the S-300 missiles, which have been contracted by Tehran but not delivered, will be used to defend Iranian nuclear facilities. A key provision in the resolution made public this week states that all UN member states will agree to block sales or transfers of weapons and "missiles or missile systems as defined for the purpose of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms." A close reading of the missile section of the register states that the missile system category "does not include ground-to-air missiles," such as anti-aircraft missiles and anti-missile interceptors like the S-300. Asked about S-300s, a senior State Department official said the draft "would not impose a legally binding obligation not to transfer S-300 to Iran" since the register does not cover defensive missiles. Yevgeni Khorishko, a Russian Embassy spokesman, said, "The S-300s is not prohibited....It is not on the list of prohibited items."
2010-05-21 09:12:40
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