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Iran’s FM insists Tehran will continue missile development despite UN resolutions
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Zarif yesterday insisted that Tehran does not need permission from anyone to develop ballistic missiles, although it is in breach of United Nations (UN) resolutions.
Iran has conducted two ballistic missile tests since Tehran signed a long-term nuclear agreement with the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) in July. Related nuclear sanctions on Iran were lifted in January. In October, Iran’s Defence Minister Hossein Dehgan confirmed that the Emad (pillar) precision-guided surface to surface missile had been successfully tested. The rocket has a reported range of just over 1,000 miles and can deliver a 750kg payload. In November, Iran tested the Ghadr-110, which has a range of 1,200 miles, and is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
Such tests are a breach of UN Security Council Resolution 1929, passed in 2010, which bans Iran from any ballistic missile development capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using ballistic missile technology. It is also a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, passed the day after July’s accord was signed, which compels Iran to refrain from any work on ballistic missiles for eight years.
However, Zarif defiantly told the ISNA news agency that, “We have announced that we will not ask permission from anyone to [strengthen] our defence and missile capability.” He said that it was “unacceptable” to claim that Iranian missile tests breach UN resolutions. He also questioned “whether the US is serious in its commitments” to lift sanctions and described Washington’s Middle East policy as “wrong.”
Zarif’s comments come just days after Iranians went to the polls to elect a new parliament and clerical council. The relative moderates, such as Zarif and President Rouhani appear to have made significant gains over hardline conservatives spearheaded by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. However, a Times editorial yesterday argued that “Iran’s reformists are not liberals” and that Iran “remains a state sponsor terrorism that denies Israel’s right to exist.”