IRGC commander ignores resolutions on Iran missile power

Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 22

By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:

Iranian Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) will not consider the demands made by international resolutions regarding the country's defense capability, a senior Iranian commander said.

"Increasing IRGC's defense capability is a national and independent decision and it has nothing to do with issued resolutions," Fars news agency quoted, the deputy IRGC Commander, Brigadier General Hossein Salami, as saying Dec. 22.

He said that it's the IRGC's duty to increase its defense capability as well as its missile power, adding the IRGC never considers the resolutions issued by the world powers regarding the country's missile issues.

He further denied the reports suggesting that the number of Iranian advisors has decreased in Syria.

He also spoke about the importance of gaining knowledge in modern spheres of war as cyber and psychological warfare and called on the IRGC forces to obtain the up-to-date information in these spheres.

The UN Security Council Resolution 2231 calls up on Iran not to test ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering a nuclear warhead.

The IAEA Board of Governors adopted a resolution Dec. 15, with a view to pave a way for implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, aka nuclear deal) clinched between Tehran and the World powers in July.

The resolution brought an end to a 12-year probe into Tehran's nuclear program, acknowledging that the Islamic Republic's nuclear activity is peaceful - a key step towards lifting international sanctions on the country.

Iran expects the deal to be implemented in the coming month, enabling the country to trade through international financial systems, receive $100 billion of its frozen assets, and resume oil trade on international markets.