Iran's Defense Ministry Rejects Mir-Salim's Claims About 'Missile Launch Request'

Iran's Defense Ministry has rejected the statements made by Mostafa Mir-Salim, a presidential candidate, regarding Iranian diplomats' request for missile tests during nuclear negotiations. On Monday, May 8, during a speech at the Iran University of Science and Technology, Mir-Salim responded to a question about why missiles are launched during negotiations, stating without further details: 'This was the request of the negotiators; if you don't believe it, ask the Minister of Defense.' He claimed that Iranian diplomats requested 'missile launches' when they were 'at a loss' during nuclear negotiations. Shortly after, an 'informed source' at the Foreign Ministry told the state news agency IRNA, 'Contrary to the strange and new claim of one of the respected candidates [of the Iranian negotiators], they never faltered and never requested missile launches. It is unclear where these gentlemen have been dreaming to say such things.' Early on Tuesday, May 9, the Iranian Defense Ministry issued a brief statement saying, 'The claim of this presidential candidate is incorrect, and the missile tests of the Islamic Republic of Iran are conducted according to specific and pre-determined plans and are unrelated to such matters.' Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, who is competing for a second term, had accused the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of obstructing the nuclear negotiations just three days prior to Mir-Salim's statements. This accusation was met with a response from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran, with a spokesperson stating that 'candidates in the twelfth presidential election should refrain from controversial military issues.' Iran's missile tests have continued over the years, both before, during, and after negotiations with six global powers, and have almost always faced criticism and sometimes severe reactions from the United States and some of its allies. The U.S. State Department considers missile tests in Iran a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding ballistic missiles. Iran asserts that missile tests do not conflict with the nuclear agreement. Despite the nuclear agreement and the lifting of related sanctions, some international resolutions regarding certain activities of Tehran and U.S. sanctions concerning issues such as ballistic missile programs, accusations of terrorism support, and human rights violations remain in place. The twelfth presidential election in Iran will be held on May 29.