Iran's Defense Minister Denies Fox News Report

Iran's Defense Minister denied a Fox News report regarding Iran's withdrawal from testing a new missile, stating that the claim is "fabricated" and aimed at "creating enmity and Iranophobia." On Thursday, February 10, Hossein Dehghan announced: "The new American claim about Iran's new missile test is fabricated and aims at creating enmity and Iranophobia." Fox News reported in recent days that Iran had refrained from launching a powerful missile named Safir from a location in eastern Tehran (within Semnan province) and had transferred the missile to an unknown location on Tuesday, February 19. Meanwhile, U.S. news networks cited unnamed American officials stating that Iran had launched "a short-range surface-to-air missile" from "the same launcher" used in the test conducted on February 10. These reports emerged after an Iranian missile test on Sunday, February 10, which prompted warnings from President Donald Trump and National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. Additionally, on Friday, February 15, the U.S. Treasury Department placed 25 individuals and entities on its sanctions list in connection with this missile test. In response, Iran threatened to impose "legal restrictions" on individuals and companies that, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, "play a role in creating and assisting extremist terrorist groups in the region" and "aid in the massacre and repression of defenseless people in the region." On Saturday, February 16, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the start of the "main phase" of a missile exercise in Semnan, with Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, warning that "if the enemy makes a mistake, our missiles will roar down upon them." Two days prior, Bahram Qasemi, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, called Flynn's statements regarding Iran's missile test "baseless, repetitive, and provocative claims." He emphasized that Iran's military programs are "not negotiable under any circumstances" and that "none" of Iran's missiles are designed to carry nuclear warheads and do not violate UN Security Council Resolution 2231. Meanwhile, Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to the Supreme Leader on international affairs, stated on Thursday: "Opposition to Iran's missile tests means opposition to strengthening Iran's and the Islamic world's defense capabilities." The Trump administration considers Iran's missile tests a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, while Iran does not view these tests as a violation. Section 3 of Annex B of Resolution 2231 states: "Iran is called upon not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology, for eight years after the date of adoption of the resolution or until the agency provides a report confirming the 'broader conclusion,' whichever occurs first." According to Mohammad Javad Zarif, Resolution 2231 "requests" (and does not "order") Iran not to test ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, which he interprets as non-binding. The Iranian Foreign Minister also stated that Iran's missiles are not designed to carry nuclear warheads. During his election campaign, Donald Trump referred to the nuclear agreement with Iran as a "terrible deal" and promised to annul it. The Obama administration had previously stated that Iran's missile tests do not violate the JCPOA.