Continued Reactions to Potential New Sanctions: Emphasis on the 'Difference' Between the JCPOA and Missile Tests

Iranian officials emphasized the continuation of the Islamic Republic's missile tests, stating that these tests are distinct from the nuclear agreement discussions between Tehran and global powers. Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, stated in an interview with state television on Thursday evening, January 10, that "there is a clear difference between the JCPOA discussions and missile tests, and missile tests in no way violate the JCPOA." These remarks followed a recent letter from Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, to his Defense Minister, instructing him to continue the production of various missiles needed by the armed forces with greater speed and seriousness. Araghchi noted that Rouhani emphasized that "the issue of Iran's defense program is non-negotiable, and if the U.S. imposes sanctions, the Islamic Republic's decisive response will be to expedite and expand its missile program." Recently, the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. is preparing new sanctions against individuals and companies in Iran, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates due to their "role" in "developing Iran's ballistic missile program." The report states that the new U.S. sanctions list includes at least five Iranian officials from the Ministry of Defense and its affiliated organizations. Following this report, Rouhani instructed his Defense Minister to accelerate Iran's missile production program. Meanwhile, a subsequent report from The Wall Street Journal indicated that the proposed new sanctions have been delayed, although the newspaper noted that the U.S. government remains determined to counter Iran's missile program. Iranian military officials have also made statements reinforcing the continuation of the Islamic Republic's missile program. For instance, Masoud Jazayeri, spokesman for the Iranian armed forces, stated on Thursday that "the expansion of defensive and missile capabilities under the Supreme Commander’s directives continues with seriousness, and the Islamic Republic of Iran has not neglected the enhancement of its missile capabilities for even one day." The Iranian Defense Minister also described Iran's missile program as a defensive program, emphasizing that "the defensive right of the Islamic Republic of Iran is not only non-negotiable but also a red line."