Iran Press/America: America's acting ambassador to the United Nations, Jonathan Cohen, in a letter to the UN security council on Thursday, accused Iran of violating UNSC resolution 2231.
Cohen said Iran has tested one ballistic missile, and launched two satellites, urging the world body to restore 'tougher international sanctions' against Tehran, Iran Press reported.
Acting US ambassador to the United Nations, Jonathan Cohen
In a letter to the 15-member council, acting US ambassador to the United Nations Jonathan Cohen said Iran tested a medium-range ballistic missile on 1 December 2018 and attempted to place satellites in orbit on 15 January and 5 February this year.
“Iran has carried out these three launches in defiance of the expressed will of the UN Security Council, and such provocations continue to destabilize the entire Middle East region,” Cohen claimed.
The United States has always tried to have a monopoly in sensitive and advanced technologies.
Meanwhile, the Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif has emphasized that UNSC resolution 2231 does not ban Iran's missile programme.
Zarif said such activities are not prohibited under Resolution 2231, which merely 'calls on' Iran 'to refrain from any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons.'
Zarif also pointed out that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons of any kind, and that none of Iran's missiles have been designed to carry nuclear weapons.
Commenting on US officials, Zarif poignantly said: "US officials obviously don't understand JCPOA. We expected as much. Anyone who has read and understood the nuclear deal, JCPOA, will know that launching satellites into space and testing missiles is not a violation of UNSC resolution 2231."
Foreign minister Zarif's comments have been confirmed and supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency on several occasions in the past.
Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Yukiya Amano, told board members on November 21 that Iran continues to abide by the nuclear deal reached in 2015.
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