Iran’s missile program irrelevant to JCPOA: Ghasemi

TEHRAN– Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghasemi rejected the accusation posed by the G7 FMs that Iran’s missile program is infringing the UNSC resolution 2231.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran acknowledges the necessity of the compliance of all sides of the JCPOA to their commitments framed in the JCPOA,” said Bahram Ghasemi on Wednesday. “Implementing the articles of this document in good faith, that has also come in the recent statement of the Group of 7, is essential, if JCPOA is a multilateral document of reciprocal commitments.”

He stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran expects balanced and full commitment of all signatories of the deal in a constructive atmosphere, according to Mehr News.

Mr. Ghasemi’s remarks came after the final statement of the foreign ministers of the Group of 7 (G7) industrialized nations, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US, was recently released. The G7 FMs met in the Tuscan city of Lucca, Italy, on Monday.

“Approved by numerous reports of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), so far the Islamic Republic of Iran has fully and meticulously implemented all its commitments in the area of nuclear energy, and the natural and legal expectation of Iran is that the other sides of the deal reciprocally both in practice and in political stances observe their JCPOA obligations, especially in the field of removing sanctions.”

Ghasemi asserted that Iran holds that its defensive missile program is not related at all to the JCPOA. The Iranian diplomat reassured that the design and the objectives of Iran’s ballistic missiles are in no defiance of the UNSC resolution 2231.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran, free from the westerners’ misunderstandings of its missile program, is fully aware of its responsibilities to improve its defensive capabilities to safeguard its national security and enhance regional peace and stability,” noted the spokesperson of Iran’s foreign ministry.

M.Wassouf