Iran Rejects Pompeo Statement on UN Arms Embargo, as Russia Tells U.S. To Stop Embarrassing Itself

The Iranians hit back yesterday at the statement issued by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Oct. 18, in which he declared not only that the UN arms embargo is still in place but that the U.S. will use all of its “domestic authorities” to enforce it. “Pompeo’s remarks are the most important sign that not even he believes unilateral U.S. sanctions have been successful, and no [UN sanctions] have been reinstated,” spokesman of Iran’s Foreign Ministry Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Oct. 19. “Iran continues to believe it can operate within the framework of international agreements. What they fear is Iran’s return to the massive market of technology and arms exports,” Khatibzadeh said, adding that Iran produces 90% of its defense needs locally and will mostly look to export arms rather than import them.