Moscow Says Putting Iran’s Ballistic Missile Tests on UNSC Has No Basis

Moscow Says Putting Iran’s Ballistic Missile Tests on UNSC Has No Basis
Wed Mar 30, 2016 20:52:39

Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Mikhail Ulyanov once again affirmed that Iran’s recent ballistic missile tests were not in breach of a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution adopted last July.

The Russian official also said Moscow sees no point in putting the issue of Iran’s ballistic missiles on UNSC agenda as the move has no basis. Ulyanov said on Wednesday that UNSC Resolution 2231 “does not ban the tests.”

"In his Wednesday remarks, Ulyanov also said, “Any country, especially when it comes to a Security Council member, can raise these issues, any country can write to the Security Council. But in this case, we do not quite understand the reasons. Whether someone likes it or not, the fact that Iran is launching ballistic missiles is a separate case. The truth is that there are no constraints on such launches in Resolution 2231.”"

His remarks come as the United States and some of its European allies are seeking a meeting at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Iran’s recent missile tests, which they claim were carried out “in defiance of” the UNSC resolution.

Resolution 2231, which endorses the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — the Iran-P5+1 agreement — provides for the termination of the provisions of previous Security Council resolutions over the Iranian nuclear program.

On March 9, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps successfully fired two ballistic missiles as part of measures to assess its capabilities. The missiles were fired during large-scale drills.

Iran says its missiles are defensive and designed to carry conventional explosives only.

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