Missile Tests Iran’s Inalienable Right: Spokesman
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry reasserted the country’s right to carry out missile tests as part of its defense plans for national security, describing the hue and cry raised by the US as a ploy to deflect international criticism over its entry ban for citizens of seven countries.
In comments on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi underscored that testing missiles is part of Iran’s inalienable right to ensure its security and national interests, stressing that making comments on Iran’s missile tests falls outside the purview of any foreign country or international organization.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran will not ask for permission from anyone to defend itself,” the spokesman stressed, giving an assurance that all ballistic missile tests by Iran are in conformity with the country’s international commitments.
After achievement in July 2015 of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear agreement between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), the 15-memebr United Nations Security Council passed a resolution to endorse the accord.
Resolution 2231 calls upon Iran “not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons.” Iran, however, maintains that none of its missiles have been designed to be capable of carrying nuclear warheads, because nuclear weapons have basically no place in the Islamic Republic’s defense doctrine.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Qassemi described a fresh wave of US attempts to accuse Iran of provocative actions as hue and cry with political purposes.
Certain groups in the US are looking for an excuse to reduce international pressure after the US president’s “ill-advised decision to ban legal visa-holders” from entering the US, or to shirk responsibilities under the JCPOA, he explained.
His comments came after US officials criticized Iran on Tuesday for what they called “provocative” and “irresponsible” measure by conducting its first missile test since Donald Trump took office.
It came after Trump’s controversial decisions in the first week in office drew widespread international condemnation.
On January 27, Trump signed an executive order that bars citizens of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia from entering the US for 90 days and suspends the US Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days.
