Tehran Insists Ballistic Missile Tests Don't Violate Iran Nuke Deal

Sputnik News

12:35 10.03.2016(updated 12:44 10.03.2016)

Tehran's recent ballistic missile tests do not violate last summer's landmark nuclear deal reached with international mediators, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Earlier this week, it was reported that Iran had fired short-, medium- and long-range precision guided ballistic missiles from several locations as a display of the country's readiness to confront any security threats.

'The Iranian missile program and tests, conducted in recent days during the military drills, do not violate [Iran's] obligations for use of the nuclear weapon and the nuclear deal, signed with the six countries,' Ansari told Iran's state broadcaster.

On July 14, Iran and the P5+1 group of countries comprising Russia, the United States, China, France and the United Kingdom plus Germany, signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The agreement guarantees the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

Following the adoption of the JCPOA, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 2231, which prohibits Iran from engaging in activities related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

In January, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) verified Iran's compliance with the terms of the JCPOA. The confirmation led to the immediate lifting of UN, US and EU sanctions linked to the country's nuclear program.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif did not hold talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry on Washington's concerns over Tehran testing ballistic missiles, the Iranian Foreign Ministry's press service told Sputnik on Thursday.

On Wednesday, US Department of State spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that Kerry "relayed his concerns today with Foreign Minister Zarif about these reports."

The Iranian Foreign Ministry, however, denied that Zarif and Kerry discussed the issue on Wednesday and that Zarif had received a letter from Kerry two weeks ago.

"Zarif and Kerry did not have any talks. Kerry wrote to Zarif about two weeks ago that he wanted to hold a conversation to discuss Iran's missile tests, but the conversation didn't take place since Zarif had left the country," the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.

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