Saudi Arabia seeks arms embargo extension on Iran

Saudi press agency has reported that Saudi Arabia is calling for an extension of the arms embargo on Iran.

The report said the Kingdom’s UN ambassador, Abdul Aziz Al-Wasel, made the move during a conference held in Geneva on Thursday August 13, 2020.

“Iran smuggles weapons to militias which destabilise regional peace,” Al-Wasel said.

He called for an extension of arms embargo on Iran, which is due to expire on 18 October, and said granting the Islamic Republic the permission to deal in weapons with the international community will worsen their hostile activities in the region.

Al-Wasel said the Saudi Kingdom is in full support for international measures to halt Iran’s weapon deal activities that threaten the peace in the Middle East.

“Lifting the international ban on Iran will lead to more destruction and devastation, and create conflicts in the region,” he said.

He said the international community will, in the coming hours, have a crucial and important date that will determine a new future for the people of the region.

He added that the only two paths are either to maintain or protect international peace and security, or give the Iranian regime an opportunity to commit more crimes and violations against the people of the region.

Al-Wasel lamented that one of the issues in the region still remains arms smuggling to militant groups, including deals in missiles and other weapons being used to target the civilians and infrastructure.

He stated that the attacks with the smuggled arms also harm the global economy by threatening waterways and targeting oil installations in the region, which is the mainstay of the international economy.

Al-Wasel referenced the outcome of a UN Security Council report that was presented on 30 June, confirming direct involvement of the Iranian regime attacks that targeted oil installations in Abqaiq and Khurais, eastern Saudi Arabia in 2019.

The report further said the attacks which were linked to the Iranian regime also targeted Abha international airport with cruise and unmanned drones, according to him.

He concluded the attacks are a confirmation of Iran’s hostile intentions towards Saudi Arabia.

“The current Iranian regime continues to finance armed militias in Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon in disregard to international charters and treaties,” he said.

Meanwhile, several other Middle East nations and beyond have joined Saudi Arabia to press the United Nations Security Council to renew the arms embargo against Iran’s regime, as failure to do so would cause ‘anarchy’.