The United Nations General Assembly has approved the first-ever treaty to regulate the global arms trade. After over six years of talks, the pact was authorized Tuesday by a vote of 154 to 3. Iran, North Korea and Syria were the countries opposed. The treaty will have no impact on domestic gun laws but will bring new regulations to the sales of conventional arms. Australian Ambassador Peter Woolcott, the head of the Arms Trade Treaty Conference, said the treaty would have a positive impact notwithstanding the compromises that assured its passage.

Peter Woolcott: “The final draft text is a compromise text which represents the broadest possible input of delegations. That text would make a difference to the broadest range of stakeholders. It would establish new common international standards in the conventional arms trade. It would also establish a forum, the Conference of States Parties, for transparency and accountability. That text would also make an important difference by reducing human suffering and saving lives.”

The Obama administration voted with the majority after blocking the treaty last summer during President Obama’s bid for re-election. According to reports, the United States helped weaken the text by limiting the list of weapons subject to regulation and by successfully opposing limits on the sale of ammunition. The treaty will now come up for ratification in the U.S. Senate, where it likely faces intense opposition from lobbyists, including the NRA.