US Resorting To ’Maximum Deception’ Campaign Against Iran - UN Envoy

By Staff, Agencies

Iran's Envoy to the UN Majid Takht-e Ravanchi rejected "certain baseless accusations" repeated by the US against the Islamic Republic's space and ballistic missile activities, saying Washington is resorting to a “maximum deception” campaign in dealing with Tehran.

"This 'maximum deception' campaign is in line with and a living example of the so-called 'maximum pressure' policy of the United States against Iran," Takht-e Ravanchi said in separate letters to the United Nations and the UN Security Council on Friday.

He added that Iran has repeatedly announced that none of its "ballistic missiles are designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons" and added that paragraph 3 of annex B to Resolution 2231 [which endorses a nuclear deal signed between Iran and major world powers] does not limit, in any way, Iran’s activities regarding the conventional ballistic missiles.

"Consequently, Iran’s related activities are not inconsistent with that paragraph. Rather, they fall outside of the purview or competence of the Security Council resolution and its annexes [S/2015/550]," he added.

Takht-e Ravanchi firmly rejected the desperate attempts by the United States for the arbitrary reinterpretation of paragraph 3 of annex B to Resolution 2231.

"There is no implicit or explicit reference in that paragraph either to the Missile Technology Control Regime itself or to its definitions and, thus, any reference thereto is totally misleading. Moreover, while the Missile Technology Control Regime criteria are not legally binding, even for its 35 members, any attempt to portray them as the universally agreed definition is definitively premature."

The Iranian diplomat pointed to the US' "unlawful" withdrawal from the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA], and its subsequent policies and practices in violation of Resolution 2231, and said Washington's "call for re-imposing the restrictions contained in Security Council Resolution 1929 [2010] -- which is a terminated and, in fact, dead resolution -- is ironic."

"In fact, when the United States, a permanent member of the Security Council, chooses to defy the Council’s resolutions repeatedly without consequence, it seriously undermines the fundamental credibility of the Council," Takht-e Ravanchi said.

He warned that the continuation of such US policies and practices would further erode the Security Council's credibility, which already faces a severe trust and confidence deficit due to such irresponsible policies of that country.

He once again reiterated that Iran has not conducted any activity inconsistent with paragraph 3 of annex B to Resolution 2231 [2015], saying, "It is determined to resolutely continue its activities related to ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles, both of which are its inherent rights under international law and are necessary for securing its security as well as socioeconomic interests, respectively."