Missile tests do not violate the nuclear deal, claims Iran’s foreign minister

Iran’s foreign minister claimed on Tuesday that the ballistic missile tests conducted by his country do not violate UN resolutions and are not illegal. Mohammad Javad Zarif made his comments in the Australian capital, Canberra, reported AFP. Iran had announced that it conducted a series of missile tests on 8 and 9 March.

According to the Iranian official, the recent tests do not violate Resolution 2231, which was issued following the historic nuclear agreement signed last July between Iran and the major powers. The resolution insists that Iran does not conduct tests of ballistic missiles which can carry nuclear warheads.

“We do not have nuclear warheads and we have undertaken not to develop them,” explained Zarif, “and the international community has put in place the best mechanisms money can buy in order to make sure that we do not develop nuclear weapons. We do not design any missiles to carry things we do not have.”

Also on Tuesday, Russia opposed a motion to re-impose sanctions on Iran for the missile tests. The move at the UN Security Council was made at the request of the United States. Nothing resulted from the discussion. International sanctions imposed on Tehran were lifted following the nuclear agreement, which came into force at the beginning of 2016.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said that she discussed the test issue with her Iranian counterpart in a “very detailed discussion.”

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