How Iran Arms Embargo Became Key Sticking Point in Vienna Talks

Iran is pushing for an end to the embargo, which would help the Islamic Republic build up its military even as it scales back nuclear ambitions, but a compromise could make the deal toxic in the U.S.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (L), French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius (3rd L), China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (4th L), High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini (C), US Secretary of State John Kerry (4th R), British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond (3rd R) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (R) meet at the table at the Palais Coburg Hotel, where the Iran nuclear talks meetings are being held, in Vienna, Austria on July 7, 2015. Talks seeking a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and major powers may yet fail, a German diplomatic source said during a break in negotiations in Vienna on the eve of a deadline. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images)
Photographer: JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images

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By David Lerman and Tony Capaccio

July 10, 2015 at 4:05 PM UTC

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A dispute over whether to lift an international embargo against selling conventional weapons to Iran threatens to derail negotiations over its nuclear program.

Iran and Russia are pressing to lift the embargo, first imposed in 2007 under a United Nations Security Council resolution, as part of any agreement to curb Tehran’s nuclear program. Doing so, however, would make it more difficult for U.S. President Barack Obama to win congressional approval of an Iran deal.