Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 1
By Fatih Karimov – Trend:
Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan confirmed that Iran has recently carried out a ballistic missile test.
“The recent missile test is in line with our plans and we will not let any foreign intervention into our defense issues,” Dehqan said, Tasnim news agency reported Feb. 1.
He further said that Iran’s ballistic missile tests are against neither the nuclear deal between Tehran and the six world powers, nor the UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the nuclear deal.
“Iran will continue its defense programs in order to defend its national interests,” Dehqan said, adding that nothing can affect the Defense Ministry’s plans and objectives.
The United States has warned Iran that its ballistic missile test, which was carried on Jan. 29, was "absolutely unacceptable" and said it violated Tehran's nuclear accord with world powers.
The US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley issued the warning on Jan. 31 after a closed-door UN Security Council meeting that the United States had called to discuss the missile launch.
She said the missile launched on Jan. 29 was capable of carrying a 500-kilogram payload and had a range of 300 kilometers, putting it in violation of the nuclear accord.
“That is more than enough to be able to deliver a nuclear weapon,” she said.
The UN Security Council has requested a report on the missile launch from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and a UN committee dealing with Iranian issues.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif earlier refused to confirm the missile launch, but said that Iran's missile tests are not related to the nuclear deal.