Putin lifts ban on Russian arms sales to Iraq

President Vladimir Putin has lifted a 13-year-old ban on sales by Russian companies of weapons to Iraq, the Kremlin announced Monday.
"The ban on sales or delivery of arms and military property to Iraq introduced by earlier UN Security Council resolutions does not apply to arms and property required by the Iraqi interim government or by multinational forces", according to a directive signed by Putin Thursday and published on the Kremlin website.
The order said the lifting of the ban, which applied to governmental bodies as well as private companies and individuals, sought to implement a UN Security Council resolution that fully endorsed Iraq's newly formed interim government and gave the country more freedom in security matters.
The resolution, approved by the UN Security Council unanimously on June 8, granted Iraqis "full responsibility and authority" for their country and the freedom to dispose of oil and gas revenues collected for the Development Fund for Iraq.
Russia has enjoyed close trade relations with Iraq for decades and had strongly opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003.
The ban on weapons was introduced in 1991 after Iraqi troops invaded Kuwait.