EU Backs JCPOA, But Also Makes Illegal Demand
UNITED NATIONS (Dispatches) — Eight European Union nations underlined their commitment to the Iran nuclear deal while called on Tehran to stop what they alleged "destabilizing regional activities” especially the launch of ballistic missiles.
Their statement said "it has been confirmed that Iran continues to implement its nuclear related commitments.”
But the Europeans claimed that ballistic-missile-related activities including "the launch of nuclear-capable missiles and any transfers of missiles, missile technologies and components” would violate Security Council resolutions.
Ambassadors of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and United Kingdom issued the statement outside the UN Security Council on Wednesday ahead of a meeting on Iran’s compliance with the 2015 nuclear agreement and the council resolution endorsing it.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was in New York to address the meeting, at which he was expected to ask its permanent members to "hold Tehran to account,” according to U.S. officials.
The Trump administration has waged a "maximum pressure” campaign on the Islamic Republic over the last year, withdrawing from a nuclear pact with Iran endorsed by the Security Council and applying a broad set of sanctions on the state.
Pompeo was expected to take questions from the press after his remarks to the Council.
President Donald Trump tweeted in anticipation of the meeting, criticizing the Obama administration for the Iran deal.
"The Democrats and President Obama gave Iran 150 Billion Dollars and got nothing, but they can’t give 5 Billion Dollars for National Security and a Wall?” Trump wrote.
U.S. and Iranian officials have already called Trump’s bluff on the allegation, stating that the figure already claimed by the U.S. president was a lie.
The meeting comes after increased tension between the U.S. and Iran.
Two weeks ago, Iran launched a ballistic missile and Pompeo argued it was a violation of the UN Security Council 2231, which endorses a 2015 nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic.
Iran dismissed the claim, saying all ballistic missile activities are in full conformity with the provisions of the UN resolution.
A senior Iranian military commander confirmed on Tuesday that Tehran recently carried out a ballistic missile test to the anger of the United States.
"We will continue our missile tests and this recent action was an important test,” IRGC’s airspace division head General Amirali Hajizadeh said.
"The reaction of the Americans shows that this test was very important for them and that’s why they were shouting,” he added, without specifying what type of missile had been tested.
Iranian Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarif also stated that the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 has not prohibited Iran’s missile activities.
"I can make it clear as the foreign minister that the issue of missiles has never been subject to negotiations and that in Resolution 2231, nothing has been approved or ratified about its prohibition for the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said.
"Our defense doctrine is basically founded upon deterrence and is defensive, not offensive,” the top Iranian diplomat said, adding that the Islamic Republic of Iran has proved its commitment to such a doctrine throughout its history.
Their statement said "it has been confirmed that Iran continues to implement its nuclear related commitments.”
But the Europeans claimed that ballistic-missile-related activities including "the launch of nuclear-capable missiles and any transfers of missiles, missile technologies and components” would violate Security Council resolutions.
Ambassadors of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and United Kingdom issued the statement outside the UN Security Council on Wednesday ahead of a meeting on Iran’s compliance with the 2015 nuclear agreement and the council resolution endorsing it.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was in New York to address the meeting, at which he was expected to ask its permanent members to "hold Tehran to account,” according to U.S. officials.
The Trump administration has waged a "maximum pressure” campaign on the Islamic Republic over the last year, withdrawing from a nuclear pact with Iran endorsed by the Security Council and applying a broad set of sanctions on the state.
Pompeo was expected to take questions from the press after his remarks to the Council.
President Donald Trump tweeted in anticipation of the meeting, criticizing the Obama administration for the Iran deal.
"The Democrats and President Obama gave Iran 150 Billion Dollars and got nothing, but they can’t give 5 Billion Dollars for National Security and a Wall?” Trump wrote.
U.S. and Iranian officials have already called Trump’s bluff on the allegation, stating that the figure already claimed by the U.S. president was a lie.
The meeting comes after increased tension between the U.S. and Iran.
Two weeks ago, Iran launched a ballistic missile and Pompeo argued it was a violation of the UN Security Council 2231, which endorses a 2015 nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic.
Iran dismissed the claim, saying all ballistic missile activities are in full conformity with the provisions of the UN resolution.
A senior Iranian military commander confirmed on Tuesday that Tehran recently carried out a ballistic missile test to the anger of the United States.
"We will continue our missile tests and this recent action was an important test,” IRGC’s airspace division head General Amirali Hajizadeh said.
"The reaction of the Americans shows that this test was very important for them and that’s why they were shouting,” he added, without specifying what type of missile had been tested.
Iranian Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarif also stated that the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 has not prohibited Iran’s missile activities.
"I can make it clear as the foreign minister that the issue of missiles has never been subject to negotiations and that in Resolution 2231, nothing has been approved or ratified about its prohibition for the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said.
"Our defense doctrine is basically founded upon deterrence and is defensive, not offensive,” the top Iranian diplomat said, adding that the Islamic Republic of Iran has proved its commitment to such a doctrine throughout its history.