Off the wire
• Sri Lanka arrests astrologer who falsely predicted President's death  • Singapore's business expectations remain similar in the first half of 2017  • Turkey's tourism income falls nearly 30 pct in 2016 amid security concerns  • China's insurance security fund exceeds 90 bln yuan  • Roundup: Morocco hails return to African Union after 33-year absence  • Eurozone inflation jumps to highest since 2013  • Russia accuses Ukraine of undermining Minsk deals  • China's power use expected to grow by 3 pct in 2017  • Railway passenger trips climb as holiday travel continues  • Philippine gov't expresses concern over series of leftist attacks  
You are here: 　 Home

Update: Iran FM warns U.S. against fomenting tension over ballistic missile program

Xinhua, January 31, 2017 Adjust font size:

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned the United States on Tuesday against creating new tension over the missile program of the Islamic republic, official IRNA news agency reported.

Zarif expressed the hope that Iran's missile program would not be used as an excuse by the new U.S. administration to create new tension for his country.

Iran's tests of missiles fall outside the UN Security Council's Resolution 2231, Zarif said in a joint press conference with his visiting French counterpart on Tuesday, according to Press TV.

The resolution only points to the ballistic missiles that can carry nuclear warheads, he said, adding that "We have announced that none of our ballistic missiles are designed to carry nuclear warheads."

"Our missiles are for... conventional warfare and serve the purpose of the Islamic republic's legitimate defense, thus falling outside the purview of Resolution 2231," he said.

Under the Resolution 2231, adopted on July 20, 2015, to endorse a nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, calls upon Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology.

"Iran would not allow others to decide on its defense program," IRNA quoted Zarif as saying.

He also denounced a recent executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump to restrict immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, saying the move would be a "shameful spot in history" for the new U.S. administration. Endit