Britain Donates Armored Vests to Iran

Middle East Newsline:

Britain has reported the donation of armored vests to Iran's security forces. British officials said the donation was meant to facilitate Iran's effort to stop the smuggling of opium from neighboring Afghanistan. They said Iranian anti-narcotics police required additional armored vests and body armor to battle drug traffickers.

British Foreign Office Minister Chris Mullin said the decision was taken after consultations with the Defence Ministry. Mullin said Teheran has pledged not to transfer the British equipment to the Iranian military. READ MORE

"We are satisfied that these goods would only be used for anti-narcotics operations and are therefore prepared to make an exception to the UK national embargo announced in 1993, as amended in 1998," Mullin told parliament.