Iran's Stance on Access to Ballistic Missiles Within the Framework of the Agreement

Two days before the potential review of the Iran and 5+1 group agreement in the United Nations Security Council, the head of the political department of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and several Iranian parliament representatives emphasized their previous position, warning that the issue of Iran's access to ballistic missiles is "non-negotiable." According to a draft resolution from the United States regarding Iran's nuclear program, which is set to be reviewed on Monday, July 29, UN sanctions against the sale and export of conventional weapons will remain for five years, and sanctions on intercontinental missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads will remain for eight years. This resolution, if approved, would mean the lifting of sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council in connection with Iran's nuclear program. However, Rasoul Sanaei Rad, head of the political department of the IRGC, on Saturday, July 27, referred to the US draft resolution and stated that Iran's military capabilities, including access to ballistic missiles, are "non-negotiable." According to Fars News Agency, he emphasized that "support" for Iran's nuclear negotiating team "does not mean accepting all the conditions of the other side in negotiations." Mr. Sanaei Rad stated: "Although this is still a draft resolution of the Security Council, even at this stage, its interventionist clauses in Iran's military affairs must be changed." Meanwhile, Ismail Kowsari, a representative from Tehran in parliament, also referred to the draft resolution and emphasized that "the parliament will not accept such restrictions at all." Mr. Kowsari also stated that ballistic missiles "are no longer considered nuclear weapons and are conventional weapons." He added: "This is just one of those issues that, according to the Supreme Leader, must be carefully worked on both in the final text of the agreement with 5+1 and in the acceptance of the Security Council resolution." At the same time, Mohammad Hassan Asfari, a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the parliament, also emphasized that negotiations in Vienna were only about Iran's nuclear program and that "addressing the country's military issues has no place in it." While American officials have repeatedly expressed concern about Iran's missile program in recent years, the US Department of Defense announced in June that Iran continues to develop technologies that "could be suitable for nuclear weapons" despite being involved in nuclear talks with six world powers. Meanwhile, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his remarks on Saturday, stated that after the nuclear agreement with the 5+1 group, the Islamic Republic's "defensive capabilities and security perimeter" will be "maintained" and that Iran will "never surrender" to what he called the "excessive demands of the enemy." Continuing reactions to the Vienna nuclear agreement, Mohammad Reza Naqdi, head of the Basij Organization, also remarked on Saturday, referring to the Supreme Leader's statements, that this agreement should not be treated as a "zero-sum game." He emphasized: "If any member of the Supreme National Security Council makes a statement without studying the summary of the negotiations line by line and without considering its implications for the country's national security... they have jeopardized national security." Meanwhile, Ahmad Alamolhoda, the Friday prayer leader of Mashhad, also stated: "If the red lines of the leader are considered and respected, the result of this agreement is also positive, and if we are to face the peace of Imam Hassan, it will create problems for Shiites." He referred to statements by Barack Obama, the President of the United States, saying that some "dream of the reopening of the US embassy," but "they did not listen to the American statements." Barack Obama has called the agreement with Iran "historic" and stated that if it is violated, Iran will face real consequences. In this context, military warnings about the prohibition of visits to Iranian military sites have been reiterated.