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‘Nonsense’: FM spox rejects US criticism of Iran’s missile program
"He was speaking nonsense," Esmael Baqaei told journalists, adding that the United States was "not supposed to comment on the defensive capabilities of a nation that has decided to preserve its independence at any cost."
The missile program was Iran's means "to stand against the greed, aggression and assaults of foreigners – including the US and the Zionist regime," he said, referring to Israel.
During a Monday visit to Israel, Rubio vowed to maintain the "maximum pressure" policy of sanctions against Tehran which was imposed during US President Donald Trump's first term in office.
That policy saw Washington unilaterally withdraw from the landmark 2015 nuclear accord between Iran and world powers.
Rubio said at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that a nuclear Iran possessing missiles that could deliver nuclear weapons far away is an unacceptable risk, not just for Israel, not just for the United States, but for the world.
The United States would press ahead with pressure on Iran until "they change course," he added.
In mid-June, Iran launched a barrage of missiles on the occupied territories in response to an unprovoked aggression by the regime, which claimed the lives of nearly 1,100 Iranians.
Iran also launched a missile strike on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military air base in West Asia, after the US joined the aggression which targeted three Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The embattled Israeli regime was forced to unilaterally accept a truce deal on June 24 following Iran’s missile strike on it’s the occupied territories.