On Sunday, the UN arms embargo on Iran its ruling authorities voluntarily accepted ended.

Iran is now once again free to buy and sell conventional arms — what many other countries do unrestrained.

Key to understand is that the Islamic Republic wants weapons for defense, not offense.

Its ruling authorities are at war with no one. They threaten no one.

They prioritize world peace, stability, and cooperative relations with other countries.

Their agenda is polar opposite how the US, NATO, and Israel operate — belligerents threatening everyone everywhere.

On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif tweeted the following:

“A momentous day for the international community, which— in defiance of malign US efforts—has protected UNSC Res. 2231 and JCPOA.”

“Today’s normalization of Iran’s defense cooperation with the world is a win for the cause of multilateralism and peace and security in our region.”

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf described the embargo’s end as follows:

“This is undoubtedly a significant failure for…weak-minded (Trump regime hardliners) and (their) powerless and isolated president, who, despite the illegal attempt to activate the snapback mechanism, was ridiculed by the international community…”

“To turn this US defeat into a strategic achievement for the Iranian nation, important steps must be taken in a proportionate and deterrent reaction to further US pressure, as well as the sale and purchase of weapons.”

Iran’s envoy to the Vienna-based international organizations Kazem Gharibabadi said the following:

Henceforth, “governments cannot refer to bans or binding international restrictions in that regard when it comes to arms deals or even the existence of weapons of Iranian origin in other countries,” adding:

The Trump regime tried to extend the arms embargo on Iran indefinitely “but failed and suffered a major defeat.”

Tehran “will closely monitor US behavior and measures… and will take the necessary action in accordance with the existing mechanisms if the lifting of the arms ban faces any obstacles in practice.”

Trump regime “maximum pressure” on Iran has been a colossal failure — succeeding only in harming its people, along with contributing to Washington’s status as an international outlaw.

Its actions against Iran and its population are crimes against humanity under international law.

According to the Nuremberg Tribunal, the Geneva Conventions, and Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, they include all forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.

The US Constitution prohibits “cruel and unusual punishments.”

US “maximum pressure” is state terrorism by another name.

Under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, terrorism constitutes a “threat to international peace and security.”

Under the Rome Statute, crimes against humanity include actions resulting in “severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law.”

They also include “inhumane acts…intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health.”

US sanctions prioritize infliction of maximum pain and suffering to force nations and populations to subordinate their sovereign rights to US interests.

Despite nearly always failing and their illegality when imposed, they’re Washington’s favored weapon of war by other means on targeted nations — along with color revolution attempts, old-fashioned coups, and targeted assassinations.

On Sunday in response to the arms embargo on Iran’s end, Pompeo reinvented reality, saying the following:

“On September 19, virtually all UN sanctions on Iran returned, including re-imposition of the UN arms embargo (sic).”

Fact: The US unilaterally and illegally abandoned the landmark JCPOA in May 2018.

No longer part of the unanimously affirmed agreement by Security Council members — including the US — Washington has no say regarding so-called snapback sanctions and the arms embargo on Iran.

Whatever actions the Trump regime takes regarding these issues — or anything else relating to the JCPOA — are null and void under international law.

On this issue, the US is isolated internationally. Even close EU allies — including E3 JCPOA signatories Britain, France and Germany — oppose the Trump regime’s abandonment of the landmark agreement.

They oppose reimposition of snapback sanctions and extending the now expired arms embargo on Iran.

Pompeo falsely accused Iran of violating Security Council resolutions pertaining to procurement of arms and related items.

He threatened the world community of nations, saying the following:

The Trump regime “is prepared to use its domestic authorities to sanction any individual or entity that materially contributes to the supply, sale, or transfer of conventional arms to or from Iran, as well as those who provide technical training, financial support and services, and other assistance related to these arms.”

He falsely accused Iran of “aggravat(ing) tensions in the region, put(ting) more dangerous weapons into the hands of terrorist groups and proxies, and risk(ing) increasing threats to” the Middle East.

All of the above apply to the US, NATO, Israel, and their imperial partners — clearly not to nonbelligerent Iran.

Pompeo also defied reality by claiming the US “desires peace with Iran…”

Both right wings of its war party target all nations not subservient to US interests for regime change — by whatever it takes to achieve their objectives, including forever wars by hot and other means.

For over 40 years, Iran withstood hostile US actions that violate the letter and spirit of international law.

Everything Washington threw at Iran failed, nor is it likely to succeed ahead.

The same goes for US sanctions war on China, Russia, North Korea, Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Syria, and other countries.

On Sunday, Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Amir Khatami said the following:

“Since last year, many countries have contacted us, and we, in turn, have also held a series of negotiations with a number of countries” on the purchase and sale of conventional arms.

“Of course, we will sell much more than we buy.”

Russia and China have cooperative relations with Iran.

They oppose US war on the country by other means, including imposition of illegal sanctions.

They’ll likely be willing suppliers of conventional weapons to Iran that its leadership seeks solely to defend the nation against possible aggression by hostile foreign countries.

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Award-winning author Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected]. He is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG)

His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

Featured image is from Silent Crow News