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Iran expelled from defence expo

— Photo: AP

Iran tests missiles including the long-range Shahab-3 in this file photo.

SINGAPORE: In what was portrayed as a Hobson’s choice, Malaysia expelled Iran from a defence exhibition that concluded in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

Announcing the decision, involving two high-profile members of the Organisation of Islamic Conference, Malaysia’s Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak said on Thursday the action had nothing do with the complaints made by the U.S. and U.K.

Saying Iran had not complied with the terms of arms-related restrictions imposed by the U.N. Security Council, Mr. Najib said it was “sad” the Iranian pavilion at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) exhibition had displayed “missiles and missile systems.” This, he pointed out, was a contravention of the Security Council’s resolution that banned Tehran from exporting arms amid concerns over its suspected nuclear weapons programme. Iran’s aviation and electronics industries were said to have been conspicuous at the pavilion, but it was not clear whether “live” systems were exhibited.

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