Defence Minister: Iran’s Missile Test Was Successful

In an interview with the Tasnim News Agency, the minister said the recent missile test has been successful.

He also reiterated that Iran’s missile tests do not violate either the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or the UNSC Resolution 2231.

It came after a US official claimed on Monday that a new ballistic missile that Iran test-fired recently has exploded after travelling 630 miles (1,013 kilometers).

The Iranian defense minister confirmed news of the test on Wednesday, stressing that the Islamic Republic will not allow the others to interfere in its defense affairs.

In the meantime, 220 Iranian MPs issued a statement on Wednesday to voice “full-fledged support” for the Armed Forces, saying “reinforcement of the defense capabilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran in line with deterrence strategy” is an absolute necessity to ensure the country’s security.

After achievement in July 2015 of the JCPOA, a nuclear agreement between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), the 15-memebr United Nations Security Council passed a resolution to endorse the accord.

Resolution 2231 calls upon Iran “not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons.”

Iran, however, maintains that none of its missiles have been designed to be capable of carrying nuclear warheads, because nuclear weapons have basically no place in the Islamic Republic’s defense doctrine.