Islamic Republic Claims Its Missile Activities Are 'Legitimate'

As international protests against Tehran's missile program increase, the spokesperson for the Islamic Republic's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that this issue is 'completely legitimate' based on what he termed 'international law.' On Thursday, June 8, Nasser Kan'ani dismissed the international community's concerns over the unveiling of the 'Fattah' missile as 'invalid and baseless,' asserting that the Islamic Republic's missile activities are 'conventional and defensive.' He also praised the 'continuous' actions of the Islamic Republic's military forces and their 'strategic achievements,' deeming them 'completely legitimate,' 'the right action,' and 'effective' against 'external threats' and for 'defending the national security of the Islamic Republic.' These statements were made in the context of reports from Iranian news agencies and websites, including Mashregh News, indicating that during a missile drill by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in March 2016, the famous phrase by Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, regarding Israel was inscribed in Hebrew on the bodies of the missiles fired: 'Israel must be wiped off the map.' On Tuesday, June 6, the IRGC unveiled the Fattah missile in a ceremony attended by Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to IRGC officials, this 'hypersonic' missile is capable of neutralizing 'all air defense systems' and utilizes a new generation of 'solid fuel' with a 'conical explosive warhead,' boasting 'excellent maneuverability and very high speed' with a range of '1400 kilometers.' This action faced widespread critical reactions and condemnation from several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Israel. In this context, two U.S. officials; one from the National Security Council spokesperson who spoke with the Persian section of 'Voice of America' and John Kirby, the National Security Council's Strategic Communications Coordinator who attended a press conference, stated that U.S. sanctions will continue against Tehran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs in collaboration with its partners and allies. Meanwhile, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Treasury Department also sanctioned a network including '7 individuals' and '6 entities' in Iran, China, and Hong Kong related to the 'Islamic Republic's ballistic missile program.' The U.S. Central Command, 'CENTCOM,' also responded to the Fattah missile test on Wednesday by stating to the Persian section of 'Voice of America': 'We are fully prepared to counter and deter any threats.'