Haley's Statements on U.S. Efforts to Focus the Security Council on Iran's Missile Program

The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations has made statements indicating Washington's efforts to encourage Security Council members to focus on Iran's missile program and other actions. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stated on Monday that U.S. evidence regarding Iranian-made missiles is 'fake.' The nuclear agreement of July 2015 between the Obama administration, Iran, and five other world powers has faced severe criticism from Donald Trump, who claims Iran has violated the 'spirit' of the agreement and is concerned about issues such as time limitations related to Iran's nuclear activities in this agreement. The United States has taken extensive measures to encourage the global community to confront what Washington calls the 'destabilizing actions' of the Islamic Republic in the Middle East, its ballistic missile program, or support for militia groups. Iran is at the top of the U.S. government's list of 'state sponsors of terrorism.' In connection with these actions, Donald Trump and several senior members of his administration hosted ambassadors from Security Council member countries on January 29. Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, and other ambassadors visited the remnants of a missile stored in a military warehouse in Washington. Ms. Haley had previously described the remnants of this missile as 'undeniable evidence' of Iran's missile and military support for Houthi militants. A Security Council report stating that Iran has effectively lifted the arms embargo on Yemen by failing to prevent missile transfers to Houthi rebels has reinforced U.S. claims in this regard. However, Iranian officials have rejected this evidence. Mohammad Javad Zarif, while the U.S. hosted ambassadors from Security Council member countries, posted images of the missile remnants on his Twitter account, stating: 'Now America is showing Security Council members pieces of a missile with the Iranian National Standards Organization label on them, the same label we put on food products. Try to forge your 'evidence' again.' Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, also described the U.S. hosting of Security Council representatives as a 'theatrical performance.' After the visit of her counterparts to the missile remnants in Washington, Nikki Haley made statements to reporters. The Associated Press reports that Ms. Haley's statements suggest that Washington is encouraging countries supporting the nuclear agreement with Iran to focus on Iran's missile actions and other activities to preserve the 'JCPOA.' Ms. Haley told reporters that the U.S. approach 'is yielding results.' She stated that ambassadors from other countries 'are beginning to understand that if we do not talk about the violating actions (of Security Council resolutions by Iran), if we do not address this issue immediately, then the U.S. will say the entirety of this shameful process is unacceptable.' The Associated Press notes that Ms. Haley's statements and activities to focus Security Council members on Iran's missile actions and other 'destructive' activities in the region come at a time when Donald Trump has warned that if the nuclear agreement is not amended, the U.S. will withdraw from it. Apart from the U.S., the main veto-wielding members of the Security Council have all supported the nuclear agreement and have urged Washington to adhere to it. On the other hand, the U.S. Secretary of State has recently made efforts during a trip to Europe to pursue the 'reforms' desired by his administration. Rex Tillerson stated that a working group has been formed with European parties in this regard. Last month, Mr. Trump set four conditions for the U.S. to continue its participation in the 'JCPOA,' which include inspections of all Iranian sites requested by international inspectors, guarantees against approaching nuclear weapons, the permanence of the JCPOA, and limitations on Iran's long-range missile program; as Mr. Trump stated, long-range missiles and Iran's nuclear weapons program are 'inseparable.' Iranian officials have so far rejected any efforts for what they call 'reforming' the JCPOA. The Islamic Republic claims its missile activities are defensive and that these missiles are not designed to carry nuclear warheads. Russia and China, two veto-wielding members of the Security Council and parties to the nuclear negotiations with Tehran, have also shown no signs of being willing to renegotiate the JCPOA. Nikki Haley made statements regarding the ambassadors of these two countries during the visit to the missile remnants. According to Ms. Haley, the Chinese ambassador said nothing and was taking notes. The Russian ambassador expressed doubts about the missile and asked how it was sent to Yemen. The U.S. ambassador responded, 'How can you dispute something like this? It says 'Made in Iran' on it.' The ambassadors of Security Council member countries met on Monday with several other senior U.S. officials, including General McMaster, Trump's National Security Advisor, and Mr. Trump himself.