Iran hasn’t violated Res 2231: Javad Zarif hits back at Pompeo

New Delhi: Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif stated that the country has not violated United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorses the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the nuclear program of Iran, by launching space vehicles and conducting missile tests.
Zarif’s clarification came after United States Secretary of State Micheal Pompeo said the launch of space vehicles with “virtually same technology” as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) was in defiance of UNSCR 2231.
“#Iran plans to fire off Space Launch Vehicles with virtually same technology as ICBMs. The launch will advance its missile program. US, France, UK & Germany have already stated this is in defiance of UNSCR 2231. We won’t stand by while the regime threatens international security,” Pompeo had tweeted on Thursday.
In response to this, Zarif tweeted: “Iran’s launch of space vehicles- & missile tests-are NOT in violation of Res 2231. The US is in material breach of same, & as such it is in no position to lecture anyone on it.
Reminder to the US: 1. Res 1929 is dead; 2. threats engender threats, while civility begets civility.” In November last year, Iranian Deputy Defence Minister General Qassem Taqizadeh had said Tehran would soon launch into space three satellites made by domestic experts.