FM says missile tests are inalienable right of Iran
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has defended the nation's right to use ballistic missiles.
The minister refused to confirm that the country conducted a missile test, saying Iran’s missile program is not part of a nuke deal signed with the world powers back in 2015.
The nuclear deal between Iran and six countries (UK, France, Russia, China plus Germany), including the U.S., was reached in July 2015 and required Iran to scale back its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
Zarif, addressing a joint news conference on January 31with visiting French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault, said that the missile issue is not part of the nuclear deal.
"The missile issue is not part of the nuclear deal. As all signatories to the nuclear deal have announced, the missile issue is not a part of the JCPOA”, he said.
Iran's missiles, he added, are "not designed for the capability of carrying a nuclear warhead. Our ballistic missile was designed to carry a normal warhead in the field of legitimate defense."
The Iranian diplomat also urged the United States not to "create new hotbeds of tension" with Tehran on this issue.
U.S. officials claim that Tehran has carried out a test launch of ballistic medium-range missiles on January 29. Reportedly, Iran tested a missile on Sunday that flew 550 nautical miles and then exploded.
The White House reported that it is studying the details of an Iranian ballistic missile test.
Iranian’s foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi also stated that the missile tests are an essential right of Iran to protect the national interests and security.
"I emphasize the Islamic Republic of Iran’s principled stance that conducting any ballistic missile test by the Islamic Republic of Iran is in full compliance with its absolute rights and international obligations,” Ghasemi said.
He reaffirmed the “defensive nature” of Iran’s missile programs and said none of the country’s ballistic missiles had been designed to carry a nuclear warhead and they were, therefore, not banned under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231.
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