Iran Refuses to Give up its Ballistic Missile Program
Iran’s top security official Ali Larijani criticized on Tuesday a US proposal requiring Iran to cut the range of its missiles to below 500 km, while a government spokeswoman said Tehran’s ballistic program and defense capabilities would not be subject to negotiations.
Speaking at a meeting with members of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, Larijani said Tehran is not opposed to negotiations that serve the country’s interests, while condemning Western powers of breaking their pledges.
He noted said Iran had “pursued all possible ways” to resolve the dispute over the “snapback mechanism” of sanctions against Tehran through dialogue, but that the other side has been obstructive.
“If a reasonable and fair proposal comes with guarantees for Iran’s interests, we will accept it. But we remain committed to defending our national interests and security, just as we stood firm on our missile capabilities,” he declared.
“The West raises the slogan of negotiations but in practice pursues other goals,” he noted, adding that Tehran would welcome “a reasonable and fair proposal with guarantees for Iran’s interests.”
On the US proposal to reduce missile range to less than 500 kms, Larijani said: “Is such a thing acceptable for an Iranian? The problem lies precisely here, that they make unacceptable demands.”
He stressed that Iran not only welcomes dialogue, but will accept any proposal that is “rational and fair” and guarantees the nation’s interests.
“It is a lie that Iran refuses to negotiate; we were in negotiations when military attacks were launched against us,” he said of the strikes Israel carried out in June.
