Iran will continue producing missiles for its defense and does not consider that a violation of international regulations, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on October 29 in a speech in parliament.
“For our defense, for defending our territorial integrity, and for defending our nation, we would not hesitate to produce any type of weapon, store them, and fire them at necessary time for our protection,” Rouhani said. “We have built, are building, and will continue building missiles, and this does not violate any international regulations.”
The United States has imposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, saying its missile tests violate UN resolutions.
Rouhani also criticized the recent decision by U.S. President Donald Trump not to certify Iran’s compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known as the Iran deal.
“You disrespect past negotiations approved by the UN Security Council and expect others to negotiate with you?" Rouhani retorted.
Another Iranian official announced on October 29 that the inspection of the country’s military sites were not part of the nuclear agreement or any legal document to which the country has committed itself.
Behrooz Kamalvandi, a spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, in an interview with state television, said that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) could only inspect sites where nuclear activities were carried out, and other locations were out of question,.
While refusing to confirm Iran’s compliance with the nuclear deal, Trump accused Tehran of “multiple violations” of the agreement.
“Iranian officials and military leaders have repeatedly claimed they will not allow inspectors onto military sites, even though the international community suspects some of those sites were part of Iran’s clandestine nuclear weapons program,” Trump said in a speech.
But Kamalvandi claims only one military site was subjected to inspection in the past, following “baseless propaganda by international media.” He added that Iran was “forced” to allow a “controlled” inspection of the Parchin military complex, 30 miles southeast of Tehran; however, the case had been closed and confirmed by IAEA.
After meeting with Rouhani and other Iranian officials, International Atomic Energy Agency head Yukiya Amano announced in Tehran on October 29 that Iran was living up to the nuclear deal.
“The IAEA can state that the nuclear-related commitments made by Iran under JCPOA are being implemented,” Amano said in Tehran.