No Talks on Iran’s Defense Capabilities, Spokesman Says
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Spokesman for the Iranian Administration Mohammad Baqer Nobakht reiterated the country’s policy not to negotiate with foreigners about its missiles power saying that no country has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of the Islamic Republic.
“Our defense capabilities are nobody’s business,” Nobakht told reporters during his weekly press conference in Tehran on Tuesday.
Iran has heard no little “nonsense” over the past 40 years, he said, referring to anti-Tehran remarks made by hegemonic powers since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s policy is based on interaction,” he said, adding, however, that the country would never accept any bullying.
Iran has always stressed that its military might and test of missiles are issues pertaining to the defense of its territorial integrity and have nothing to do with other matters, the nuclear deal reached between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France, and Germany), known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Iran has also underscored frequently that its military might poses no threat to other countries and that the Islamic Republic’s defense doctrine is entirely based on deterrence.
Since the JCPOA came into force in early 2016, the US has been seeking to link the deal to Iran’s missile program.
US President Donald Trump, who has called the JCPOA the “worst deal ever negotiated”, has called for renegotiating it to address what he calls concerns about Iran’s missile capabilities.
The Islamic Republic has underlined that the nuclear agreement is not renegotiable under any circumstances.
