Iran dismisses US concerns as Security Council meets on missile test
Tehran will not change its defence strategy because of the “hallucinations” of certain countries, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Bahram Qasemi said on Tuesday, state media IRNA reported.
He added that Iran has no plans to develop a missile that can carry a nuclear warhead.
The United States has accused Iran of testing a medium-range ballistic missile over the weekend, “in defiance” of the UN Security Council resolution that endorsed the nuclear deal.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo alleged the missile could hit parts of Europe and could carry multiple warheads.
Iran has neither confirmed nor denied the test and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif hit back on Twitter: “Making a mockery of the [Security Council] won’t obscure failure to fulfill obligations [and] to hold US to account over non-compliance… Rather than undermining [Resolution] 2231, better to work towards its adherence by all.”
The Security Council will meet on Tuesday to discuss the matter behind closed doors, at the request of France and the UK.
“Iran’s recent ballistic missile test was dangerous and concerning, but not surprising,” US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said, welcoming the council meeting.
“The international community cannot keep turning a blind eye every time Iran blatantly ignores Security Council resolutions,” she added.
“If the Security Council is serious about holding Iran accountable and enforcing our resolutions, then at a minimum we should be able to deliver a unanimous condemnation of this provocative missile test.”
Iran has defended its missile programme, saying that its programme or tests are not banned under any Security Council resolution, and fiercely refuses to put it on the table during negotiations.
The missile programme gives Iran “veto rights” over strategic issues in the Middle East, Heshmatullah Falahatpisheh, chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian parliament, told IRNA on Tuesday.
“Iran is one of the world's powers in this field and in addition to military and security use, including on the borders of the country, it has economic benefit and civilian use, such as explorations, discoveries and cloud fertility,” he said.
Iran used its ballistic missiles to attack the headquarters of Iranian-Kurdish parties in Koya, Kurdistan Region in September.
Falahatpisheh said that even US aircraft are susceptible to Iran’s defensive power.
The head of Iran’s air force told Fars News that they plan to increase the range of their air-to-air missiles.
"We have a very extensive plan in the field of long-range and smart ammunition and missiles," said Brig. Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh.
British Ambassador Karen Pierce told reporters that the missile test is “inconsistent” with the resolution, but the UK wants to know “exactly what happened and then we will reach a judgment about how we want to characterize it.”
While the US has withdrawn from the nuclear deal, Europe – including the UK and France – have remained committed to keeping the agreement alive.
Rudaw
