Rouhani Says Iran’s Missile Program Will Continue despite Washington’s Concern

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that the Islamic Republic would continue its ballistic missile program despite Washington’s concerns, the Iranian media reported. “American authorities should know that whenever we need to test a missile for technical reasons, we will carry it out. And we will not wait for them or their permission,” he said defiantly after U.S. and Saudi leaders criticized Tehran’s regional policies at the Riyadh summit. He further claimed that Iran’s missile activities are for defense purposes. Dismissing Washington’s demand, Rouhani said the U.N. Security Council 2231 does not bar Iran from developing its missile program. He made the comments at the first press conference since winning a second term in Iran’s presidential elections on Friday.

Comment: Iran’s missile program has been a constant source of tension between Washington and Tehran since President Donald Trump took office four months ago. Iran’s launch of Khorramshahr medium-range ballistic missile in late January prompted a strong response from the Trump administration, which put Iran “officially on notice” and imposed new sanctions on Iranian entities and individuals associated with the program. The U.S. Treasury imposed additional sanctions on Iran’s missile program earlier this month. And the U.S. Senate had temporarily delayed a bill that imposes another set of sanctions on Iran related to its ballistic missile program and other non-nuclear activities in order not to impact the Iranian elections.

While the nuclear agreement Tehran signed with world powers in 2015 does not address Iran’s missile program, a subsequent U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231 calls upon Iran “to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology.” Iranian officials argue that the country’s missiles are not designed to carry nuclear warheads, but Western officials say some of the missiles Iran has tested after the 2015 nuclear deal have been "inherently capable of delivering nuclear weapons" and are "in defiance of" the U.N. resolution.

Although the Rouhani government and hardliners in Iran differ on how to approach the new U.S. administration, which has taken a tougher stance on Iran, there is a general consensus among all Iranian circles of power that the Islamic Republic should continue its controversial missile program in defiance of international demands.

In a similar remark last month, Rouhani had said that the Iranian government would seek no one's permission to build missiles and upgrade the country’s defense capabilities. “We have repeatedly declared that strengthening the defensive prowess of Iran’s Armed Forces is only aimed at defending the country and will never be used against another country,” he said in a ceremony held in Tehran to unveil new domestically-manufactured defense achievements. “[Striking] a regional balance and maintaining the defensive and deterrent power of a pivotal country like Iran, which has endangered big powers’ interests through its great [Islamic] Revolution and is conveying the message of justice and freedom to the world, are necessary,” he added.