Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the expiration of UN arms restrictions asserting that “all restrictions on the transfer of arms, related activities and financial services to and from the Islamic Republic of Iran, and all prohibitions regarding the entry into or transit through territories of the United Nations Member States previously imposed on a number of Iranian citizens and military officials, are all automatically terminated”. The statement underscored that “unconventional arms, weapons of mass destruction and a buying spree of conventional arms have no place in Iran’s defence doctrine”. Tehran further warned that in case of “any measure against the provisions of UNSC Resolution 2231, particularly paragraph 1 and its defined timetables… Iran reserves the right to take any necessary countermeasures to secure its national interests”. In parallel, the U.S. State Department insisted that “on September 19, virtually all UN sanctions on Iran returned, including re-imposition of the UN arms embargo… The U.S. is prepared to use its domestic authorities to sanction any individual or entity that materially contributes to the supply, sale or transfer of conventional arms to or from Iran, as well as those who provide technical training, financial support and services, and other assistance related to these arms”.