Iran Press/America: The US administration is escalating its hostile campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran by focusing on its defensive missile program.
On Thursday, Hook accused Iran of violating UN ban on Iranian arms exports by sending weapons to its proxies in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, Associated Press reported.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said in a statement that Iran's missile program is defensive in nature, and no UN Security Council resolution bans Iran from developing its missile program.
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Also in reaction to US threats, a senior Spokesman for the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi said that missile tests and defensive capabilities are Iran's detterence means, adding that the Islamic Republic of Iran will continue test-firing and developing its missiles in defiance of US illegal moves.
Shekarchi also stressed that the Islamic Republic will not ask for any country’s permission with regard to its missile program.
Iranian air defense forces launched a homemade missile system and unveiled a new artillery system on 5 November, during a joint military drill.
Brian Hook on Tuesday rejected Iran's insistence that its missile program is defensive while speaking to reporters traveling to Mike Pompeo, reiterating the claims that Iran's missile development and testing is a threat and in defiance of UN Security Council demands.
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At the same time, the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a tweet today that US is falsely accusing Iran of violating UN Security Council 2231 resolution while it has earlier breached the same resolution.
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US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew Washington from the nuclear agreement in May and reintroduced sanctions on Iran in August.
The US withdrawal was met with worldwide criticism, particularly by other signatories to the international agreement. Britain, France, Russia, China, Germany and the European Union have stressed their compliance with the deal and their support for its proper implementation. 105
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