Ghasemi's Reaction to Pompeo's Tweet About Iran's Missile Program

The spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry described U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's comments regarding Iran's missile program as "baseless," "inappropriate," and "interference in Iran's internal affairs," emphasizing that the Islamic Republic will continue this program. On Friday, Bahram Ghasemi reiterated in an interview with ISNA that Iran's missile activities "do not contradict any of the Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2231." On Thursday, Pompeo announced on his Twitter account that "stricter limitations against Iran's missile program must be reinstated." The U.S. State Department also separately reacted to the unsuccessful launch of a satellite, urging Iran to stop its missile activities, which it claims violate Resolution 2231 of the UN Security Council. Iran has stated that its produced missiles do not have the capability to carry nuclear weapons and therefore, its missile activities do not violate Resolution 2231. This resolution, issued after the 2015 nuclear agreement, called on Iran to refrain from developing ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. On Thursday, Iran also unveiled a "missile production city underground," and Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, stated that all "enemy" bases are within the reach of Iran's missiles. However, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson referred to the experience of the Iran-Iraq war, stating that the Islamic Republic's missile activities are "deterrent, indigenous, and defensive" and "aimed at establishing peace and stability in the region." Ghasemi's statements come amid accusations from Iranian President Hassan Rouhani during presidential debates that the Revolutionary Guards intended to disrupt the JCPOA with missile launches. Ali Motahari, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, has also repeatedly accused the Revolutionary Guards of hindering the continuation of the JCPOA with missile launches. The Revolutionary Guards have also inscribed the phrase "Israel must be wiped off the face of the earth" in Hebrew on several of their missiles.