French Defense Minister: Iran's Missile Program is a 'Threat'

On Tuesday, October 1, the French Defense Minister stated that Iran's program for producing nuclear-capable ballistic missiles is a 'threat.' Florence Parly, speaking to reporters after meeting with her American counterpart James Mattis, also expressed concern about Iran's influence in the Middle East. A day before these remarks, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that it had 'avenged' the recent attack on a military parade in Ahvaz by firing six medium-range ballistic missiles at an area east of the Euphrates in Syria. The IRGC's statement claimed that these missiles targeted the 'headquarters of the leaders' of the Ahvaz attack, resulting in the death and injury of 'many Takfiri terrorists and leaders of the Ahvaz terrorist crime.' The attack on the military parade in Ahvaz on September 22 resulted in at least 24 deaths. The UN Security Council condemned the attack in a statement on October 1, calling it 'terroristic.' The ISIS group claimed responsibility for the Ahvaz attack. Meanwhile, Iran's missile program has drawn criticism from European countries, including Germany and France. While Europe defends the nuclear agreement with Iran known as the 'JCPOA,' figures like French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have called for discussions about Iran's missile program. The Trump administration, which withdrew the U.S. from the nuclear deal, is seeking a new agreement that would also include Tehran's missile program. However, Tehran has consistently rejected these requests, emphasizing that the Islamic Republic's missile program is non-negotiable. Additionally, the plan for an 'attack on the National Council of Resistance of Iran' in France has also strained relations between Paris and Tehran. France holds the Iranian government responsible for this incident and, in response, froze assets belonging to Iranian intelligence services and two Iranian citizens on Tuesday. France had previously arrested an Iranian diplomat and two others in this regard and warned Tehran to expect 'a strong response' in this connection.