Tehran, May 7 (IANS): Iran will not accept the renewal of a UN arms ban against the Islamic republic, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday, state TV reported.
Any attempt to renew the ban on arms sales to Tehran is a violation of the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 that mandates the lifting of the embargo in due time, Rouhani said in a cabinet meeting, reported Xinhua news agency on Wednesday.
"The United States and other countries should know that Iran will not accept the violation of Resolution 2231 under any circumstances," he said. "Under the resolution, it is Iran's absolute right to be soon relieved of the ban."
Any mistake in this regard to extend bans will bring about "dire consequences ... and it will be a big defeat for them," he noted.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that Washington was considering "every possibility" to renew a UN Security Council ban on selling conventional arms to Iran which will expire in October.