Prominent Iranian Political Analyst: Zarif Told Me in Vienna Iran Will Continue Arms Aid to Regional Allies

Renowned political analyst Dr. Mohammad Marandi said that Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told him in Vienna last that Iran would continue to supply arms to the regional nations even under a final nuclear deal.

“When we were in Vienna, the Arab media asked me if Iran would continue arms aids to its regional allies under the final deal, and when I asked Mr. Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister, the question, he told me that Iran would continue the arms supply,” Marandi, a Tehran University Professor, said during a live interview with the English-language channel, press tv, on Monday night.

“Mr. Zarif told me that Iran would continue its arms aid to the regional nations and he told me that it would be in violation of the UN Security Council resolution (that was adopted earlier today), but it would not be in opposition to the agreement (also known as the Comprehensive Joint Plan of Action),” he added, and continued, “And he never asked me to avoid mentioning his name when reflecting the answer to the Arab media and I told them his reply.”

Iran and the six world powers struck a final agreement in Vienna last Tuesday to end a 13-year-old nuclear standoff.

Today, the UN Security Council (UNSC) unanimously endorsed a draft resolution turning into international law the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

Minutes later, the Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a rather lengthy statement, where it stressed that the country’s ballistic missile program and capability is untouched and unrestricted by the UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

The statement underlined Tehran’s resolve to contribute an active role in war on terrorism and promotion of peace and stability in the region.

The statement ensured that “Iran will continue its pioneering role in campaign against terrorism and violent extremism”, including its cooperation with the neighboring states.

“In addition, the Islamic Republic of Iran will continue making the necessary arrangements and plans to reinvigorate its defensive capabilities to protect its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity against any kind of aggression as well as its confrontation with the threat of terrorism in the region,” it added.

“Within this framework, Iran’s military capabilities, including its ballistic missiles, are exclusively for legitimate defense; these equipment have not been designed for the capability to carry nuclear payloads and thus, fall outside the scope and the jurisdiction of the UNSC resolution and its annexes,” the Iranian foreign ministry statement stressed.

All 15 members of the UNSC voted for the draft UN resolution in New York on Monday, setting the stage for the lifting of Security Council sanctions against Iran.

The text of the draft UN resolution calls for the “full implementation” of the Vienna agreement “on the timetable established,” and urges UN member countries to facilitate the process.