The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps plans to conduct a missile exercise featuring ballistic missiles in the near future, the commander of the IRGC aerospace division said on Friday.
Chiding domestic critics who have alleged that following the July nuclear deal with the P5+1 (the US, Britain, France, Russia and China plus Germany), the IRGC has markedly limited its activities in relation to ballistic missiles, including military exercises, Lieutenant General Amirali Hajizadeh said, "Such activities have been pursued as seriously as before."
"The IRGC has held some scheduled drills so far," which have not been publicized due to a decision by the Supreme National Security Council, he added, Fars News Agency reported.
A resolution adopted by the United Nations Security Council in line with the provisions of the deal to endorse it and terminate all previous resolutions against Iran has banned Tehran from undertaking "any activity related to ballistic missiles to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons" for eight years after the deal is put into force.
Officials have on several occasions made clear that Tehran does not consider itself obliged to comply with the ban, arguing that it is contained in nonbinding annexes of the resolution, so violating the ban cannot be regarded as a breach of the deal.
Also, Iran has reiterated that it has not and will not develop any missiles with the capability to carry nuclear warheads. As a result, its missile program is not subject to the ban.
