Iran Does Not Deny Testing Missile Capable of Carrying Nuclear Warhead

One day after the U.S. Secretary of State stated that Iran recently tested a medium-range ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry did not deny such a test in response to these remarks. According to the IRNA news agency, Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, on Sunday, December 2, reacted to the U.S. Secretary of State's statement about the missile test by saying that "no resolution in the Security Council has prohibited Iran's missile program or missile tests." He also reiterated the Islamic Republic's assertion that Iran's missile program "has a defensive nature and is designed based on the country's needs." Mr. Qasemi did not deny the testing of this missile by Iran but did not provide details about its features or the timing of the test. Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated on Saturday, December 1, that Iran has recently tested a medium-range ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. According to this statement, the test of this type of missile, which can target parts of Europe and the entire Middle East, constitutes a "violation" of UN Security Council Resolution 2231. The U.S. Secretary of State also did not provide details about the timing and location of Iran's missile test. A few days prior to this statement, the Sputnik news agency quoted Brian Hook, the U.S. Special Representative for Iran, stating that estimates suggest Iran tested a medium-range missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead in January 2017, approximately 11 months ago. According to this report, the range of this missile is about two thousand kilometers. UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which was issued following the 2015 nuclear agreement in Vienna to endorse it, called on Iran to refrain from developing ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Donald Trump, the U.S. President, after withdrawing from the JCPOA, stated that he seeks a broader agreement with Iran that includes issues related to the missile program, nuclear program, and Tehran's role in the region. The Islamic Republic considers the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA as a "violation" of UN Security Council Resolution 2231. In response, the U.S. views Iran's missile activities as a "violation" of this resolution. Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry addressed the U.S. Secretary of State on Sunday, saying: "It is interesting and indeed ridiculous that you refer to a resolution that you have not only violated by your unilateral and illegal withdrawal from the JCPOA but also encourage others to violate it, or even threaten them with punishment and sanctions if they implement it." European countries, while declaring their commitment to the JCPOA, have also expressed concern about Iran's missile program. In this context, Jeremy Hunt, the British Foreign Secretary, expressed serious concern about Iran's recent missile test and called it "provocative." Jeremy Hunt tweeted that Iran's medium-range ballistic missile test is "inconsistent with Resolution 2231" and is a provocative and threatening action. He also stated: "Our support for the JCPOA in no way diminishes our concern about Iran's destabilizing missile activities." Previously, Hassan Rouhani, the President, and Ali Motahari, the Deputy Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, have accused the Revolutionary Guards of attempting to undermine the Vienna nuclear agreement with missile tests.