National
0

UN Resolution Not Breached by Iran's Missile Activities

UN Resolution Not Breached by Iran's Missile Activities
UN Resolution Not Breached by Iran's Missile Activities

Iran's missile activities are not a violation of a UN resolution that calls upon Iran to refrain from any work related to ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, a lawmaker said.

Resolution 2231 was adopted by the UN Security Council on January 20, 2015, to endorse the nuclear deal between Iran and major powers announced days earlier. "The Islamic Republic's missile activities are by no means a breach of Resolution 2231. All western countries are aware that the Islamic Republic's missile sector pursues a defensive approach," Jalil Rahimi told ICANA on Saturday.

Rahimi was responding to a recent call by Britain's UN envoy Matthew Rycroft for new sanctions on the Islamic Republic to punish its missile activities.

"We remain concerned by Iran's ballistic missile program and urge all member states to continue to enforce the sanctions regime on ballistic missile technology, and to act on and report all suspected violations," Rycroft said in a statement to the United Nations on Wednesday. This is while UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said in his briefing to the UN Security Council on the resolution that no information was received regarding Iranian ballistic missile activities or ballistic missile-related transfers to the country undertaken contrary to the relevant provisions of the resolution.

Rahimi said, "Based on international laws, every country is entitled to boost its deterrent and defensive power … If we back down in the face of the western countries' excessive demands, it would definitely embolden them to interfere not only in our national defense affairs but also in the smallest domestic matters."

Iran says its nuclear program is only for peaceful applications and that none of its missiles has been designed to deliver nuclear weapons.

Major powers agree that the request in the resolution is not legally binding, but western nations consider it a ban and say there is a "political obligation" on Iran to comply.  

Add new comment

Read our comment policy before posting your viewpoints

Financialtribune.com