Iran’s Missile Tests No Breach of Nuclear Deal: EU's Mogherini
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – European Union (EU) Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini said Iran’s recent missile tests are not a violation of a lasting nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.
The tests are “not a violation of the (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action which was finalized back in July 2015) as such,” Mogherini said after meeting the foreign ministers of the 28 EU nations in Brussels on Monday, AFP reported.
However, she claimed the missile tests, which Iran insists are rightful and aimed at enhancing the country’s defense and deterrence capabilities, could raise tensions in the region.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Monday that Iran will “continue to expand” its military defense, stressing, “These military equipment have nothing to do with nuclear weapons.”
Iran has repeatedly announced that test of missiles is an issue relating to defense of its territorial integrity and that none of its missiles are designed to carry nuclear weapons.
The remarks by the EU foreign policy chief came after the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) forces test-fired two types of Qadr ballistic missiles during the drills in north of Iran on Wednesday morning.
The two ballistic missiles, Qadr-H and Qadr-F, were launched from the heights of East Alborz Mountains, north of Iran, and hit targets on the Makran coasts, southeast of the country.
The projectiles streaked along Iran’s airspace for some 1,400 kilometers before hitting the targets.
The IRGC Aerospace Force began the final stage of the missile drills in different parts of the country on March 8 by firing ballistic missiles from silos.
