Iran dismisses Merkel's missile remarks as ‘unconstructive’

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Saturday rejected German Chancellor Angela Merkel's recent remarks about Iran's missile program as "unconstructive."

The Islamic republic has repeatedly announced that its missile program is purely defensive and by no means is designed to carry nuclear warheads, Iran's Foreign Minsitry Sopokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by semi-official Mehr news agency.

On Thursday, Merkel said "Iran continued unabatedly to develop its rocket program in conflict with the relevant provisions of the UN Security Council."

It is not a violation of any resolution of UN Security Council, and has nothing to do with the nuclear deal or JCPOA reached between Iran and the world powers in July last year, Qasemi said.

Iran's missile program is solely developed for deterrence purposes to meet national security needs, and the pressures by the West will not have any impact on the country's resolve to boost its defensive capabilities, he said.
 [Xinhua -globaltimes.cn]
9/7/16
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