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Missile Tests Iran’s Inalienable Right to Defense

Missile Tests Iran’s Inalienable Right to Defense
Missile Tests Iran’s Inalienable Right to Defense

Iran said missile tests are an "inalienable" right of the Islamic Republic to defend its security and national interests, stressing that no country or international body can have a say in this regard.

"I emphasize the Islamic Republic of Iran's principled stance that any ballistic missile test by Iran is in full compliance with its absolute rights and international obligations," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said on Tuesday, Press TV reported.

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 United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231.

Resolution 2231 was adopted on July 20, 2015, to endorse a landmark nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signed between Iran and major powers earlier that month.

Under the resolution, Iran is "called upon" not to undertake any activity related to missiles "designed to be capable of" delivering nuclear weapons. Iran says it is not involved in any such missile work and has no such warheads. The spokesperson stressed that Iran would never seek permission from anyone to defend itself. He added that the ballistic missile tests are not inconsistent with the UN resolution and condemned politically-motivated comments by certain countries over the issue.

Qasemi said some Americans are creating hype with political objectives and seeking pretexts to ease international pressure on them following the US government's thoughtless decision to prevent the entry of people holding legal visas or shun the responsibility of fully complying with Washington's obligations under the 2015 nuclear agreement.

However, he added, Resolution 2231 does not grant anyone such excuses.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday cautioned the United States against politicizing the Islamic Republic's legitimate efforts at reinforcing its defense capabilities.

"We hope that the issue of Iran's defense program … does not turn into a pretext for political games," he said at a joint press conference with his visiting French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault in Tehran.

Zarif said all parties to the JCPOA, including both France and the previous US administration, have attested that Iran's missile tests have nothing to do with the nuclear agreement.

 

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