Deputy Commander of the IRGC: We Will Never Accept Disarmament of Our Missiles

Brigadier General Hossein Salami, the Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), emphasized on Tuesday: "Missiles are defensive assets and the main elements of the deterrent power of the Islamic Republic of Iran." Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the National Persian Gulf Day ceremony, Salami stated that Iran can never accept disarming itself of its deterrent capabilities. He also referred to comments made by some European leaders regarding Iran's missile capabilities, saying: "Europeans should know that while we are being sanctioned, we will never be disarmed and will not lose our leverage of power." Salami continued: "We are the ones who have secured energy for them, and they should not play with our power." American officials consider Iran's missile program, alongside its actions in the region, as evidence of Iran violating the spirit of the nuclear agreement. Restrictions on Iran's missile program are among the conditions that President Donald Trump has set for amending the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Iran's ballistic missile program has also raised concerns among Europeans. Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a four-point plan during a three-day visit to Washington, one of which includes halting Iran's ballistic missile activities. This proposal has faced opposition from Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and other senior officials of the Islamic Republic. Macron and other European leaders are trying to alleviate Trump's concerns to encourage him to remain in the nuclear agreement with Iran, and the three European powers involved in the nuclear deal have proposed new sanctions concerning Iran's missile program and regional presence. Trump is expected to announce the U.S. position and decision regarding the JCPOA on May 11. Previously, the U.S. President and several other officials expressed their dissatisfaction with the JCPOA's provisions, describing it as a bad agreement that needs to be amended. Meanwhile, Sadegh Amoli Larijani, the head of Iran's judiciary, also emphasized on Tuesday that "the Islamic Republic will not negotiate any new terms regarding the JCPOA, and fundamental issues such as defense capabilities, including missile technology discussions that are essential for the defense of the country, are not negotiable at all." In a similar statement, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, the spokesman for Rouhani's government, also stated during his weekly press conference on Tuesday, referring to the phone conversation between the presidents of Iran and France, that "the Islamic Republic's response is that we have a document in nuclear discussions, which is the JCPOA, and we do not negotiate in defense matters." On Sunday, Brian Hook, the senior advisor to the U.S. Secretary of State, urged America's European allies to impose new sanctions on Tehran to stop Iran's missile program. Hook, who traveled to Riyadh with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, told reporters that Washington seeks to sanction all entities and individuals associated with Iran's missile program. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia accuse Iran of supplying missiles to Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have repeatedly targeted Saudi territory with missiles. Iran has denied these accusations. The U.S. has repeatedly added various individuals and entities related to Iran's missile program to its sanctions list. The end of Trump's deadline for amending the JCPOA could mean the re-imposition of some sanctions on Iran that were suspended by the U.S. President within the framework of the nuclear agreement at four-month intervals.