With UN Sanctions Expired, Russia To Expand Military Ties With Iran

After the end of the UN's sanctions on Iran's missile program, Russia has announced plans to deepen military ties with the regime.

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov made the announcement on Wednesday, just days after the October 18 expiration which now allows Iran to sell drones, ballistic missiles, and long-range strike technologies to its anti-Western partners and clients. Ending the sanctions also means Iran can now purchase its own technology to further develop its capabilities.

“We will develop our cooperation on a mutually beneficial basis as we did before - in full compliance with international obligations and existing regimes in this area," Ryabkov said. "Now, after the expiration of some restrictive provisions of resolution 2231, there are fewer such restrictive regimes. Naturally, we will be using this, and it should not raise any questions for anyone.”

Iran, a historical ally of Russia, is accused of supplying lethal drones to Moscow for use in Ukraine, but it has asserted its neutrality in the conflict.

Earlier, the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control took measures in response to the expiration of the UN arms embargo against Iran by imposing sanctions on 11 individuals, eight entities, and one vessel based in Iran, China, Hong Kong, and Venezuela. 

These sanctions were applied on the grounds that these entities allegedly supported Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard, Ministry of Defense, and Armed Forces Logistics in their efforts related to missile and drone production and proliferation.