Iran Can Now Buy Advance Weapon Systems

A ballistic missile is launched during the second day of military exercises codenamed Great Prophet-6, for Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards at an undisclosed location. Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards fired 14 missiles in the exercise. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Robert Farley, The Diplomat: What Weapons Will a Post-Deal Iran Look to Purchase? Pretty Much Everything

With the Iran deal, Tehran will be looking to purchase arms. Who’s selling?

The recent deal between the P5+1 and Iran over the latter’s nuclear program means, reportedly, that Iran will once again be on the market for advanced weapons technology, and that (eventually) it will have money to spend.

There is little question that both Russia and China have been looking forward to this moment. Indeed, Russian and Chinese forebearance has been one of the miracles of the sanctions process, evidence that neither, however much they like to tweak the United States, actually favors a nuclear Iran. But even if the deal fails to make its way through the U.S. and Iranian diplomatic process, the arms embargo has a very limited lifespan.

WNU Editor: When the Shah was in power he was a major purchaser of weapon systems in the world. With the end of the arms embargo and with tensions and war spreading throughout the Middle East .... I will not be surprise if the mullahs in Tehran start purchasing advanced weapon systems that will even dwarf what the Shah bought. The major beneficiaries of these sales will be Europe, China, and Russia .... and I would not be surprised if during the nuclear negotiations this topic was brought up on the side by Iran to entice compliance from Russia and China.