Rouhani says Iran to continue missile program

DUBAI/TEHRAN: Iran will continue to produce missiles for its defense and does not consider that a violation of international accords, President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday in a speech broadcast on state television.

Rouhani spoke days after the US House of Representatives voted for new sanctions on Iran’s ballistic missile program, part of an effort to clamp down on Tehran without immediately moving to undermine an international nuclear agreement.

“We have built, are building and will continue to build missiles, and this violates no international agreements,” Rouhani said in a speech in the Parliament.

“We will produce any weapons of any kind that we need and stockpile it and use it at any time to defend ourselves,” Rouhani said.

The US has already imposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, saying its missile tests violate a UN resolution, which calls on Tehran not to undertake activities related to missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and says it has no plans to build nuclear-capable missiles.

In a related development, Rouhani has asked the UN nuclear chief to confirm it still adheres to the nuclear deal. A statement Sunday from Iranian president’s office quoted him as telling Yukiya Amano that Iran’s adherence to the deal “has been complete and remarkable.”

Amano, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), met with Iranian officials during his visit to Tehran.

The UN nuclear chief said Iran was carrying out its commitments made under the deal.

“As of today, I can state that the nuclear-related commitments made by Iran under the JCPOA (nuclear deal) are being implemented,” Amani said at a press conference in Tehran broadcast by state television.

“We hope that, given the full cooperation of Iran in recent years, the IAEA announces the final report on the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program as soon as possible,” Rouhani said.

“We should not allow the (nuclear deal), as an important achievement, to be undermined, and we must consolidate this important international commitment with full cooperation,” he added.

Iran struck the deal with world powers in 2015. It saw Iran limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the easing of economic sanctions.