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US: Russian fighter jet sale to Iran would violate arms ban

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AP Washington
The US says Russia's proposed sale of fighter jets to Iran would violate a UN arms embargo extended as part of the nuclear accord with Tehran.

The State Department says transferring the Sukhoi-30 planes requires the UN Security Council's approval. The planes are comparable to American F-15E fighter bombers.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner says the US plans to raise the matter with Russia and that the four other countries that negotiated the nuclear agreement "should be fully aware of these restrictions."

The deal kept the arms ban on Iran in place for another five years.

Toner didn't say if Washington will speak with Tehran about the possible purchase.

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First Published: Feb 18 2016 | 10:48 PM IST

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