Top security official underscores Iran’s missile power as non-negotiable
Iran’s Secretary of Defense Council Ali Shamkhani reiterated on Wednesday that the country’s missile capabilities are non-negotiable as Tehran and Washington have launched a new round of negotiations to resolve a dispute over Iran’s nuclear program.
He said that Iran's missile capabilities are its red line and are not a subject to be negotiated.
Shamkhani made the remarks on the sidelines of a ceremony marking the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Tehran.
Iran and the US held their first round of the new talks in Oman on Friday. On Sunday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who is leading the Iranian team in the negotiations, said Tehran's missile program had never been part of the talks' agenda.
Washington has long sought to extend talks on Iran's nuclear capabilities to cover its missile program as well. Iran has said it is prepared to discuss curbs on its nuclear program in return for the lifting of sanctions, but has repeatedly ruled out linking the issue to other questions including missiles.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in an interview with PBS network said that Iran is ready to talk about the level of enrichment of the uranium.
“We have said many times that we would be ready to talk about the level of enrichment, about the stockpile,” PBS quoted Baqaei as saying. “But the important thing is that our right, which is recognized under an international treaty, should be respected.”