A Western Official: Iran Wants Sanctions on Its Missile Program Lifted

A Western official told Reuters that the Iranian diplomatic team in nuclear negotiations has demanded the lifting of sanctions related to its ballistic missile program and the export of other weapons to Iran. This official stated on Monday, July 6, that the Iranian negotiators argue that there is 'no reason' for Iran's missile program to be linked to the nuclear issue. However, the Western official added that 'accepting this view is difficult' and emphasized that 'there is no enthusiasm for this issue among us.' An Iranian official also told the agency that 'the Western side insists that not only should Iran's missile program remain under sanctions, but Iran should also limit this program.' He added, 'Iran emphasizes its rights and has said that all sanctions, including those against its missile program, should be lifted when UN sanctions are lifted.' According to this report, another Iranian official in Vienna told reporters that the Islamic Republic is demanding the lifting of UN arms sanctions against it. However, the West insists that these sanctions must remain, and a Western official stated that such a request 'is not feasible.' Iran's missile program is a major concern for the US and Israel regarding Iran. The Islamic Republic of Iran does not recognize Israel and seeks its destruction. At the same time, the Tasnim news agency, close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that with the announcement of the general policies of Iran's sixth development plan by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, the development of Iran's missile capabilities is 'at the top of the defense programs for the next five years.' The Reuters report on the Iranian nuclear negotiating team's request to lift sanctions against Iran's missile program comes while a member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly had previously quoted Mohammad Javad Zarif, the foreign minister, as saying that Iran did not 'allow' the issues of human rights and its missile program to be raised in past nuclear negotiations. The UN Security Council issued two resolutions in 2007 and 2010 imposing sanctions on the export of weapons to Iran and the Islamic Republic's missile program. On Tuesday, July 7, is the last chance for Iran, the US, France, the UK, Germany, Russia, and China to find a final solution regarding the controversial nuclear program of the Islamic Republic. In recent weeks, the expert and diplomatic teams of these countries have had intensive discussions in Vienna, the capital of Austria. Meanwhile, a reporter from Radio Farda quoted an Iranian official as saying that if necessary, nuclear negotiations may continue after Tuesday.