On October 18, 2023, the United Nations Security Council’s restrictions on Iran’s nuclear and missile technologies came to an end. This development has been met with various reactions globally, with experts speculating on the types of missiles Iran can now freely sell to other countries, including Russia. The sanctions were imposed under UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and were aimed at constraining Iran’s ballistic missile program. According to Ali Bagheri Kani, the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, these prohibitions have now lost their validity and will be removed from the UN’s official website. JNS provides a detailed account of the US State Department’s stance on this matter.
The recent expiration of UN sanctions on Iran comes at a particularly sensitive time, especially in light of the latest Israel-Hamas war. This development raises concerns as it could potentially enable Iran to financially bolster itself by selling advanced missile technologies to Islamist factions and terrorist organizations. Such a scenario could further destabilize an already volatile region, adding a new layer of complexity to ongoing geopolitical tensions.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also issued a statement, noting that missile technology products to and from Iran no longer require prior approval from the UN Security Council. The lifting of these restrictions opens new avenues for military-technical cooperation between Iran and other countries. Experts point out that Iran can now freely sell missiles to other nations and import spare parts for missile development and production. Qatari news Al Jazeera delves into the significance of this development, especially as the US and E3 continue to keep their sanctions in place.
Iran’s missile technology is quite advanced, and in some respects, it surpasses Russian technology. For instance, Iranian analogs of the “Iskander” are much cheaper than Russian complexes. The country can now export missile systems like “Fateh-110” and “Zulfiqar.” The “Fateh-110” is an operational-tactical missile system mounted on a vehicle chassis, using solid-fuel ballistic missiles equipped with inertial and satellite navigation-based guidance systems. The latest modifications are equipped with infrared homing heads. India news outlet WION offers an in-depth look into the expiration of the UN embargo that prohibited Iran from trading missiles and drones.
The “Zulfiqar” is an improved modification of the “Fateh-110,” characterized by increased accuracy. Its missiles can destroy targets at distances up to 700 kilometers, compared to the “Iskander,” whose ballistic missile range is up to 500 kilometers. The lifting of UN sanctions has been termed a “huge victory for Iran” by Richard Goldberg, who served on the National Security Council during the Trump administration. Iran can now legally buy an ICBM from China or sell missiles/drones to Hamas, Hezbollah, and Russia.
The lifting of UN sanctions on Iran’s missile program is a significant development that has both geopolitical and security implications. Countries around the world are closely watching how Iran will utilize its newfound freedom in the field of missile technology. For further reading, GlobalSecurity.org provides an overview of the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s announcement regarding the end of restrictions on its ballistic missile-related activities.
