Iran on Tuesday categorically rejected allegations that its missile program is in breach of a 2015 United Nations resolution, saying that it will continue to develop its military capabilities through conventional means.
“Iran’s missile program is completely deterrent in nature and is part of the country’s unstoppable defense programs. We definitely do not design our defense programs on the basis of baseless concerns stemming from unfounded and ill-motivated accusations by certain extra-regional countries,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said in a statement published by IRNA.
His comments were in response to a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council on Tuesday over what the United States, Britain and France have called Iran’s testing of a medium-range ballistic missile, claiming that it flouted UN restrictions on the country’s missile program. Iran has neither denied nor confirmed the launch.
Under a UN resolution underpinning the Iran nuclear deal, Tehran is “called upon” to refrain from work on ballistic missiles designed to deliver nuclear weapons for up to eight years.
Qasemi said the Islamic Republic’s missiles are only capable of delivering conventional and not nuclear warheads, and urged European countries to exercise more vigilance in the face of such acts of psychological warfare against Tehran.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday condemned the yet-to-be-confirmed missile test, claiming that it is in violation of the international agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, from which Washington has withdrawn.
Tuesday’s UN Security Council discussion was called at the behest of Britain’s UN Ambassador Karen Pierce and her French counterpart Francois Delattre. However, according to Reuters, there is no push for council action over the issue, as it would likely fail.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman criticized the West’s double standards and its silence on the Saudi-led military coalition of Arab states engaged in war-torn Yemen that has claimed the lives of thousands of civilians, especially women and children.
Arbitrary Interpretation
Iran’s UN mission said in a statement that Tehran firmly rejects any “arbitrary interpretation” of the provisions of Resolution 2231.
“Iran has never sought to acquire nuclear weapons and never will in the future,” it noted, adding that Iran’s conventional missile activities not only are not inconsistent with the resolution but also fall outside of its purview.
“The US should stop abusing the Security Council to further its mischievous policies against Iran,” read the statement carried by IRNA.
A spokesman for Russia’s mission to the UN told TASS news agency on Wednesday that Britain and France failed to present any evidence demonstrating that the Security Council resolution had been violated.
“The Russian Federation has no information that on December 1 Iran tested a ballistic missile, designed to carry nuclear weapons,” Fyodor Strzhizhovsky said.
“Also, neither the United Kingdom nor France presented any evidence of this during UN Security Council consultations on the issue.”
The official said Russia has urged the West to engage in dialogue with Iran instead of introducing new sanctions.
Brian Hook, Washington’s special representative for Iran, told Reuters on Tuesday that the European Union should consider economic sanctions on the country over its ballistic missiles.
“Instead of threats and sanctions, the parties concerned should engage in a full-fledged dialogue based on mutual respect,” Strzhizhovsky said.
The Russian spokesman added that the International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed on many occasions that Iran’s nuclear program does not have any military component.
