Sputnik - An ex-chief of the Russian upper house's defense and security committee has claimed that Russia would continue to fulfill its obligations to Iran under the program of arms deliveries.




MOSCOW (Sputnik)�� The possible abandoning by�US President Donald Trump�of�a nuclear deal with�Iran will not affect Russia's implementation of�the program of�arms deliveries to�Tehran from�2020, in�particular, combat planes and helicopters, warships and missile systems, ex-chief of�the Russian upper house's defense and security committee, Viktor Ozerov told Sputnik on�Friday.

Earlier on�Thursday,�the Washington Post�newspaper reported that�US�President�Donald Trump�intended to "de-certify" the nuclear deal with�Iran next week. According to�the newspaper, Trump is expected to�deliver a speech on�October 12, when he will open the door to�modifying the agreement as�part of�a tougher approach toward�Iran. Under the terms of�the current nuclear agreement, Trump has until�October 15 to�certify Iran's compliance.
"There is a UN Security Council decision confirming Tehran's fulfillment of�all its obligations under�the nuclear program. Russia will fulfill all its obligations to�Iran, including the program of�arms deliveries from�2020, they have not been withdrawn," Ozerov said.


Ozerov specified that in�2020 the UN embargo on�conventional arms export to�Iran would be lifted. From that point on, Iran will be able to�legally procure tanks, armored combat vehicles, large-caliber artillery systems, combat jets and helicopters, military ships and missile systems from�foreign partners.

The United Nations imposed the arms embargo on�Iran in�several steps. In 2006, the organization banned all exports of�technology that could be used for�developing nuclear weapon delivery systems to�Iran. In 2007, the UN Security Council also outlawed arms export from�Iran. Finally, in�June 2010, the United Nations put an embargo on�all major conventional arms exports to�the Islamic Republic. The latest restrictions are expected to�be lifted five years after�the day the JCPOA was�adopted,�or in�October 2020.

The possible US withdrawal may affect the prospects for�Syrian settlement taking into�account the role of�Tehran in�this process Ozerov added.
"Taking into�account Iran's position on�Syria, Washington's withdrawal may affect Syrian settlement, which is carried out�with the participation of�Tehran as�well," Ozerov said.


He also underlined that Washington's possible withdrawal from�the nuclear deal with�Iran may prompt concerns in�Moscow.
"If Washington withdraws from�the nuclear deal with�Iran, Russia may get concerned that a similar thing will happen to�the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which has been repeatedly mentioned by�the United States," Ozerov said.


The lawmaker added that Washington's possible pullout of�the deal might come across�as "a very negative signal" for�Pyongyang, as�North Korea will see that even if it makes a step forward and phases out�its nuclear program, the United States can nevertheless impose news sanctions on�the country.

Previously,�the Russian State Duma's International Affairs Committee Chairman claimed that�a possible US withdrawal from�the nuclear deal with�Iran may lead to�possible "outbreaks" from�Tehran.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of�Action, also known as�the Iran nuclear deal, is an international agreement providing for�the gradual lifting of�economic and diplomatic sanctions imposed on�Iran by�Western countries in�exchange for�closing Tehran's nuclear program. The agreement was concluded between�Iran and the P5+1 countries (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, United States plus Germany) in�2015 after�years of�diplomatic work and came into�force in�January 2016.

Earlier,�Trump�said in�his speech to�the�UN General Assembly�that the deal was "an embarrassment" to�the United States.