Era of sanctions and threats: Iran Defies France's Alleged Concerns about Missile Program

The Iranian foreign ministry dismissed the French officials' alleged concerns about the country's missile program and regional influence, stressing that Tehran will continue its defense policies independently.

"Iran's positions about the remarks sometimes heard from certain French statespersons or raised in the media are fully transparent and clear," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi told FNA on Sunday.

• His remarks came after France’s foreign ministry claimed on Sunday that Iran’s ballistic missile program was a major concern, a day before foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian arrived in Tehran.

Qassemi referred to the Iraqi-imposed war against Iran (1980-1988), and said, "Iran has gained experiences (from that war) and learned that it should defend itself to the necessary and conventional extent and develop such a high capability that others do not even think of aggression against Iranian territories again."

He described Iran's defense program fully defensive and deterrent in nature to safeguard the country's territorial integrity, independence and freedom, and said, "This policy and our missile program are no violation of the UN resolutions and rules."

Qassemi blasted attempts to link Iranian missiles to other issues, including the nuclear deal, as a deviating and irrational move by enemies, and said, "We will continue our national policies in the missile and defense issues … and we will not take permission from anyone on how to regulate these policies and will not allow any country to interfere in such issues and Iran's policies and (will not allow them to) hold talks with the Islamic Republic of Iran on such cases."

He also referred to the French foreign minister's threats of new sanctions against Iran, and said, "Even the public opinion knows that the era of sanctions and threats ended long time ago."
 (FNA)
 4/3/18
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