Tehran, Iran, Jan. 31
By Mehdi Sepahvand, Fatih Karimov – Trend:
Iran’s missile tests are not related to the nuclear deal between Tehran and the six world powers, which came into force last year, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, has said.
He made the remarks during a joint press conference with his visiting French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault in Tehran Jan. 31, Trend correspondent reported from the event.
As all members of the P5+1 (the US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) have already confirmed, Iran’s missile tests are not a part of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, aka nuclear deal), Zarif said.
Zarif added that Iran’s defense program – including ballistic missile tests – is neither related to the UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the nuclear deal.
He said Iran will not hand over its defense to other countries’ permission.
Iran’s missiles “are not designed to carry a nuclear warhead,” Zarif said, adding that Iran will never use its weapons to attack other countries.
The top Iranian diplomat further warned the United States against “creating new tensions” with Tehran over the issue.
Asked whether Iran has conducted a missile test recently, Zarif refused to confirm that.
According to US officials, Tehran has carried out a test launch of a medium-range ballistic missile on Jan. 29.
The US mission to the United Nations said it is requesting that the UN Security Council hold a closed-door meeting to discuss the test.
Meanwhile, the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, confirming the test, refused to give any details on how the White House plans to deal with the issue.
“We are aware that Iran fired that missile, we are looking into the exact nature of it,” Spicer said.