Russia’s Veto Against Iran’s Supply of Weapons Is ‘The Rationale of a War Trader’

Russia vetoed the resolution put forth by The Security Council. The resolution would prevent Iran from providing the Houthis with weapons.

“I hope that GCC countries will deal seriously with this Russian decision. It is time to link our economic strength with our security interests, either by suspending our business deals or by canceling them. What is important is that the international community should know that we will not accept what undermines our security,” writes Bahraini writer and journalist Sawsan al-Shaer in an article for Al Arabiya.

Cooperating with Russia to have a diversified security and prevent abuse of monopoly in our alliances were good decisions, and should be linked with trade agreements as well.

“The world must take steps against countries like Iran for providing militias with weapons,” and Russia has a strong bias towards Iran that threatens the security of all the Gulf countries, according to Al-Shaer.

Iran does not raise ‘regular armies’, but musters irregular ‘militias’ that fight states, oppose decisions in their countries and forces their peoples to obey the militias — be it in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen. Supplying these militias with weapons makes it impossible for them to merge with the state, which in turn makes it impossible for these countries to have stability. The threat to its neighbors is also heightened because these militias cannot be brought under the ambit of international conventions and treaties. Therefore, the world must take steps against countries providing militias with weapons.

Iran fighting through its proxies and by supplying weapons to its agents in Yemen. Supplying militias with weapons “makes it impossible for them to merge with the state, which in turn makes it impossible for these countries to have stability.

“The threat to its neighbors is also heightened because these militias cannot be brought under the ambit of international conventions and treaties. Therefore, the world must take steps against countries providing militias with weapons,” Al-Shaer continued.

Yemen is threatened by a militia that contravenes any form of legitimacy. Although Houthis are not a regular army, the state of Yemen has been overtaken by the Houthi militia, and so Yemen is threatened by a militia that contravenes any form of legitimacy. The internal conflicts of Yemen threaten the entire region. Iran is reported to supply the missiles the Houthis launch at Saudi Arabia.

Al-Shaer wonders how Russia can justify its veto, which totally violates security, and asks, “Is the veto Russia used to thwart condemnation of the Syrian regime, when it bombed al-Ghouta, not enough?”

Russia’s veto is completely against the GCC’s interests and security. Russia should be asked to clarify its position. It sells weapons to the GCC, even as it sells weapons through Iran to militias that are threats. It vetoes a move to prevent it from selling the weapons.

“This is the rationale of a war trader and not of a state that builds international relations on a sound and sustainable premise,” Al-Shaer said.