A new report by Oxfam International names Iran and Syria as major violators of arms embargoes over the last decade.
Overall, the report indicates that more than $2.2 billion in arms and ammunition has been imported to countries under arms embargoes since 2000.
According to the figures, Syria imported $167 million worth of air defense systems and missiles and $1 million worth of small arms in 2010 in violation of arms embargoes on the country. Some of the weapons played a role in the Assad regime’s crackdown on Syrian protesters.
In addition, the report found that Iran traded $574 million in arms from 2007 to 2010.
The report, “The Devil Is in the Detail,” was released May 3 by the humanitarian agency. — jta