Zarif: Missile Tests Are Not Contrary to Nuclear Agreement

In response to the missile tests conducted by the Revolutionary Guards, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, emphasized that the missile launches "are not contrary to the nuclear agreement." According to the IRNA news agency, Mr. Zarif stated on March 15 that "we have always said we will continue to develop our defensive capabilities, and this defensive equipment is not related to nuclear weapons." He added that "the tested missiles were not tested for carrying nuclear warheads." According to the Iranian Foreign Minister, the tested missiles "are solely for defensive purposes." Zarif's statements reinforce what Iranian government officials had previously said. These remarks come a day after the U.S. Secretary of State stated that the recent tests "violate UN resolutions" and, alongside the French Foreign Minister, warned that new sanctions may await Tehran. Zarif claimed that Iran "spends only a tiny fraction compared to other countries in the region on defense equipment." Following the conclusion of nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers, a resolution was issued by the UN Security Council numbered 2231; this resolution called on Tehran to refrain from activities related to ballistic missiles designed to carry nuclear weapons, including the launch of missiles made using ballistic missile technology, for eight years. However, some analysts believe that the "recommendations" of resolution 2231 are not binding for Iran. The White House stated that the U.S. and its allies in the region will intensify their efforts to limit Iran's ability to expand ballistic missile technology. Samantha Power, the U.S. representative to the United Nations, stated that Washington will raise the issue of Iran's missile tests at the Security Council on Monday. In another part of his remarks, Mohammad Javad Zarif stated that Iran "does not support any individual in Syria" and is opposed to the terrorist group ISIS, which aims to create dangerous conditions in our region. Iran is one of the main supporters of Bashar al-Assad, and a group of Iranian officials has previously stated that the Syrian president is Tehran's "red line." The latest round of negotiations to end the Syrian war will begin on Monday in Geneva. The U.S. and Russia, as well as regional countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia, are among the countries involved in the negotiations.