Iran revolutionary guards oppose UN resolution on nuclear deal

A UN Security Council resolution endorsing Iran's nuclear deal that passed on Monday is unacceptable, the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps commander Mohammed Ali Jafari was quoted as saying by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

“Some parts of the draft have clearly crossed the Islamic republic’s red lines, especially in Iran’s military capabilities. We will never accept it,” he was quoted as saying shortly before the resolution was passed in New York.

The UN Security Council has unanimously endorsed the landmark nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers.

The resolution, co-sponsored by all 15 council members and adopted on Monday morning, also authorises a series of measures leading to the end of UN sanctions that have affected Iran’s economy.

But the measure also provides a mechanism for UN sanctions to “snap back” in place if Iran fails to meet its obligations.

The resolution had been agreed to by the five veto-wielding council members, who along with Germany negotiated the nuclear deal with Iran.

Meanwhile, Germany and Iran are moving tentatively towards reviving a once close trade relationship, anticipating the lifting of western economic sanctions against Tehran.

German economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel, making the first top level German government visit to Tehran in 13 years, indicated that a ministerial-level meeting of a long dormant German-Iran economic commission would take place early next year in Tehran.

Mr Gabriel signalled the move at a meeting with Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zangeneh during the visit, which is also the first to the country by a senior member of a Western government since the nuclear agreement last week.

German exports to Iran hit €4.4 billion 2005 but then slumped to €1.8 billion by 2013 as the West tightened the sanctions imposed over Iran’s nuclear programme. However, the agreement between Iran and six world powers including Germany has opened the prospect that the sanctions will be removed.

Iran once produced more oil than Saudi Arabia and was able to extract more than 6 million barrels per day in the 1970s, but its output has fallen below 4 million barrels per day over the past decade due to the sanctions and under-investment.

For decades, Germany was Iran’s biggest trading partner in Europe. Last year, German exports to Iran rose to €2.4 billion in anticipation that the sanctions might be eased, but German industry associations have said they could quadruple to €10 billion within a few years. German machinery, auto, chemicals, healthcare and renewable energy firms are likely to be the biggest beneficiaries of an opening up of the Iranian market.

Israel opposed the deal struck on Tuesday, under which sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union and United Nations will be lifted in exchange for Iran agreeing long-term curbs on a nuclear programme.

Reuters