“The United States has itself confessed that JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] and resolution 2231 does not restrict Iran’s missile activity,” he told on Wednesday on the sideline of the cabinet meeting.
Iran does not design its missiles to carry nuclear warheads since it has no plan for having nuclear weapons, he highlighted.
He went on to say that the United States is making such claims because it wants to cover its own violations of the UNSC resolution after withdrawing from JCPOA. Describing such claims as ‘baseless’, Zarif highlighted that UN Security Council didn’t explore this claim in yesterday’s meeting.
Zarif had tweeted on Tuesday, citing the remarks of US special envoy for Iran Brian Hook who had confessed that resolution 2231 doesn’t prohibit Iran’s missile program.
The United Nations Security Council met behind closed doors on December 4 over claims made by the United States, France, and the UK that Iran has tested a ballistic missile which violates UNSC Resolution 2231. The meeting didn’t issue any statement in this regard.
Iran’s defensive capabilities is not negotiable, he highlighted, adding, “countries which are expressing worry about Islamic Republic of Iran’s defensive power are the ones which have sent weapons worth billions of dollars to the region, causing regional insecurity; so they cannot call on the great and powerful Iran to abandon its defensive power.”
Elsewhere, asked about the US move to send an aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf, Iran’s Foreign Minister responded, “we believe that the presence of foreign forces in the Persian Gulf undermines the regional security. But the Islamic Republic will defend its territorial integrity and national interests with all power.”
He also pointed to the latest status of Special-Propose Vehicle (SPV), saying that final negotiations are underway and the mechanism will be in place soon. “However, since Americans always try to prevent the realization of any agreement upon notice, European countries are following related procedures secretly till reaching a final result.”
Asked about the status of Iran’s accession to Paris Agreement, Zarif said the aims that Iran is pursuing regarding reduction of greenhouse gases in its 6th Developmental Plan is far more serious and stricter than that of Paris Agreement. What matters for the Islamic Republic is having an active international participation on this issue, he added.
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